Ten years ago, activated charcoal was considered a fairly effective means of combating excess weight. It was then replaced by appetite regulators and various nutritional supplements. However, today, when newfangled drugs have become too expensive or completely discontinued, a serious discussion about coal has again developed on the Internet. So let's find out how this medicine works and whether it can really help you get rid of extra pounds at home.
Useful properties
Activated charcoal is a medicinal product, not a fat burner. And it helps not so much those who want to get rid of extra pounds, but those who need a serious cleansing of the body. Therefore, among the positive manifestations of taking the drug, what comes to the fore are not the "melted" centimeters of the waist or problems, but:
- Stabilization of the digestive tract.
- Removal of toxins and other harmful substances from the body.
- Slightly slows down the aging process of the skin (due to increased fluid intake).
- Reduction of cholesterol in the blood and, as a result, improvement of the work of the brain and cardiovascular system and acceleration of metabolism.
- Improving the work of the liver, adrenal glands, kidneys and a number of other internal organs.
- There is no precipitation, since the active elements of the drug are not absorbed, but are completely eliminated from the body within 8-10 hours after administration.
- Reducing the likelihood of infection with staphylococci, dysentery and some airborne diseases (for example, influenza).
Indications for use
As for all types of diets (which we will consider in more detail below), taking activated carbon is justified only when combined with other methods. However, you can find many other indications for its use in medical reference books. So, those who suffer from:
- Metabolic disorders.
- Stomach disorders, fermentation, flatulence, diarrhea.
- Consequences of severe detoxification.
- Intoxication with alkaloids, salts of heavy metals and other harmful substances.
- Poisoning with different etiology.
And this is just a short list of situations where it will be extremely useful. Remember, however, that you can take the drug not only once, but in a course only after approval by your doctor, as you may have contraindications for taking it.
Contraindications
Despite the fact that cleaning with activated carbon is practiced everywhere, not everyone should use it. In addition to individual intolerance, reasons for refusal may include:
- Vitamin deficiency or metabolic disorders.
- Insufficient (under 14 years) or excessive (over 65 years) age of the person losing weight.
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding in young mothers.
- Low blood pressure.
- The presence of problems in the gastrointestinal tract: colitis, duodenal ulcer or any other.
- The patient takes certain drugs (for example, antitoxins).
- Predisposition to constipation and bulimia, presence of intestinal dysbiosis.
- Internal bleeding (regardless of its origin).
As you can see, drinking it is not always beneficial. And in some cases it can even be dangerous to health. Therefore, if you plan to start losing weight with activated charcoal, be sure to consult your doctor first.
Is there a result?
Is charcoal effective as a weight loss agent? In search of an answer to this question, let's turn to the experience of those who have already tested these pills on themselves. According to reviews, in two weeks, without using additional methods (effective diets, physical activity), people manage to lose about 2-4 kg. In addition, the greater the initial weight of the slimmer, the better results he was able to achieve.
However, let's find out if activated charcoal really promotes weight loss? Not exactly. It's just that when you start taking these tablets, you increase your water intake accordingly. Having previously filled the stomach with water, a person eats less during the next meal. The result is weight loss. In other words, it is quite possible to achieve the same result in the same period without taking activated charcoal. It will be enough to drink a glass of still water at room temperature about 20-30 minutes before a meal.
But what the drug really does a good job of is cleansing the body. After a two-week course, many people note:
- Improved skin condition: disappearance of blackheads and oily shine.
- The appearance of lightness in the body.
- Stabilization of intestinal function.
However, all this happens only if you take the medicine correctly. If you forget about the measure and follow the principle "the more, the better" when consuming, you can develop a number of complications.
Damage to the body
It seems that we all know charcoal from childhood - as an excellent remedy for intestinal problems and excessive gas formation. So what negative consequences can we talk about? Let's remember that activated carbon is primarily a medicinal product. This means that its overdose or improper use can harm the body. This can be expressed in:
Avitaminosis and hypovitaminosis Activated carbon is an excellent adsorbent, but it removes not only toxins from the body, but also nutrients.
External deterioration With prolonged use, you risk canceling all the positive effects of "cleansing": clean skin will become dull and covered with pimples, nails will become brittle and hair will begin to fall out.
constipation Excessive retardation of peristalsis is a sure companion of serious constipation, which is not so far from diarrhea and hemorrhoids.
Damage to the intestinal walls Two weeks of moderate use of the drug will not lead to negative consequences. However, if you get too carried away, you are guaranteed to have gastrointestinal problems.
Reducing the effect of taking other drugs Instead of having a restorative effect on the body, the useful substances and antibodies contained in the tablets will be actively removed along with the toxins.
Reduction of blood pressure and thromboembolism
And all this applies only to completely healthy people. How self-medication or "grandmother's" recipe based on activated charcoal will affect those who already suffer from chronic diseases is anyone's guess. But there is clearly no need to talk about improvements.
Of course, the above does not mean that it is harmful to health. It's just that the benefits will be noticeable only if taken correctly. And it may turn out to be completely different from what you expect.
Dosage and application rules
So, which method of application will give the optimal effect and not cause irreparable harm? The exact course can be prescribed only by the attending physician who is familiar with the characteristics of your body. In general, the admission rules are as follows:
- The duration of the course starts from 3 days and should not exceed 2 weeks (the same applies to diets that include taking this drug).
- The number of tablets to be taken per day (at least 3 approaches) is calculated according to the formula: 1 tablet for every 10 kg of weight. In other words, if you weigh 50 kg, you should drink 5 tablets a day, if you weigh 113 kg - 11 tablets.
- The drug should be gradually introduced into the daily menu. If your norm is 7 pieces, during the first 2-3 days it is better to take no more than 5 tablets, gradually increasing the dose. The same goes for course completion.
- The dose is taken within an hour before or after a meal. However, you should not drink it in the morning (when your stomach is still empty), it is better to do it an hour after breakfast.
- After completing the course, do not forget to take a break for at least 2 weeks.
- Take the tablets with boiled still water at room temperature. This will prevent all types of bacteria from entering the body and help the medicine start working faster.
- At the end of the meeting, do not forget to contact your doctor to prescribe a course of multivitamins (to restore the vitamin balance in the body).
Also, if you want the most benefits from taking activated charcoal, try to stick to the following recommendations:
- Reduce consumption of flour products and those containing sugar.
- Avoid alcohol completely.
- Exclude from your daily menu dishes with a high content of sugar, fat and harmful elements.
- Drink water (at least 1 liter for every 30 kg of weight, but up to 2. 5 liters in total).
- Switch from coffee to weak tea without any additives.
- Increase your physical activity by making sure that exercise (such as morning exercise, an evening jog or a swim in the pool) provides a burst of energy and strength, rather than completely exhausting you.
Follow these simple rules and losing weight with activated charcoal will definitely benefit you. Even if not all extra pounds disappear, you will feel much better than before the start of the course.
Acceptance variations
As already mentioned, many people begin to actively take the drug in an attempt to lose weight. Therefore, let's look at the most popular methods and evaluate their effectiveness:
Option #1: Gently
Essence:The dieter's diet remains unchanged and no additional weight loss efforts are considered. Tablets should be taken in the amount of 2 pieces 1. 5 hours - one hour before meals. The duration of the course varies from 10 days to two weeks.
Result:There will be no significant weight loss (maximum - 3-4 kilograms in 14 days). However (if other conditions remain unchanged), the lost centimeters will disappear forever, lightness will appear in the body, intestinal function will stabilize and daily activity will increase significantly.
Option 2: Three-day diet
Essence:For 3 days, the slimmer adheres to a certain diet. Additional physical activity is not taken into account, but is not prohibited.
Day 1 During the day, you can only eat activated carbon with kefir and water. In addition, you first take several tablets (based on weight), washing them down with a glass of warm still water, and after half an hour - a glass of kefir. If you are used to eating more than three times a day, the portion size and the number of tablets should be reduced. In this case, the break between meals should be at least 2-3 hours.
Day 2 The current "dish list" is exactly the same as the previous day's menu, but with one difference. Kefir is replaced with apples at the rate of one apple for each glass.
Day 3 On this day, the diet remains the same, but instead of kefir you will eat a vegetable salad with olive oil or steamed vegetables without salt.
Result:This diet is one of the express diets and therefore as a result you can lose up to 5 kg. However, the menu provides for a rather sharp and radical rejection of products, which is not suitable for everyone. As you lose weight, you may experience severe headaches, weakness, and bouts of uncontrollable appetite (which may even cause you to gain weight). Therefore, you should not undergo this diet during periods or when doing things that require increased attention and concentration.
If such a diet is easy for you, the course can be continued by stretching it to 15 days. However, you should stop taking activated charcoal, and at the end of the diet, definitely take multivitamins.
Option #3: A two-week diet with activated charcoal
Essence:For 14 days, the person who is losing weight eats according to a certain pattern, designed to gradually dull the feeling of hunger. At the same time, 30-60 minutes before meals (except for the second breakfast), I take activated charcoal (2 tablets) with a glass of warm still water. When evaluating the effectiveness, additional physical activity is not taken into account.
- Breakfast: a portion (0. 2 kg) of oatmeal boiled in water and a cup of green or black tea without additives. If desired, you can flavor the porridge with raisins, and with the tea you can eat bread with a thin slice of cheese.
- Second breakfast: a glass of low-fat kefir.
- Lunch: lean meat broth (beef or chicken) and 0. 2 kg of boiled vegetables.
- Dinner: fresh fruit salad seasoned with a tablespoon of sour cream or homemade yogurt.
- Breakfast: buckwheat boiled in water, as well as one hard-boiled egg and a cup of tea.
- Second snack: apple, kiwi or small banana.
- Lunch: vegetable broth and 0. 15 kg pollock baked in its own juice without adding spices.
- Dinner: an apple and 0. 2 kg of cottage cheese, the fat content of which does not exceed 7%.
- Breakfast: a plate of freshly cooked rice and a cup of tea.
- Second snack: two small fruits of your choice.
- Lunch: steamed chicken (0. 2 kg) and vegetable salad dressed with low-fat sour cream.
- Dinner: vegetable casserole and a cup of tea.
- Breakfast: a plate of oatmeal cooked with low-fat milk, a cup of tea and a handful of raisins.
- Second breakfast: cucumber and two hard-boiled eggs.
- Lunch: a bowl of lean fish soup. You can eat no more than 0. 1 kg of the fish itself.
- Dinner: a portion of cottage cheese and a banana.
- Breakfast: 1 medium-sized tomato, a sandwich (bread + a thin slice of cheese) and a cup of tea.
- Second breakfast: 0. 05 kg of cottage cheese and a glass of low-fat milk. If desired, you can add some bread.
- Lunch: vegetable soup cooked in meat broth and 0. 1 kg of lean boiled meat.
- Dinner: fresh vegetable salad.
- Breakfast: buckwheat porridge boiled in water (without additives), one hard-boiled egg and cucumber.
- Second breakfast: a glass of low-fat kefir and a small fruit of your choice.
- Lunch: low-fat meat broth (0. 2 kg) and cucumber.
- Dinner: cottage cheese (0. 1 kg), seasoned with a tablespoon of homemade yogurt (without additives).
- Breakfast: oatmeal boiled with milk, 0. 1 kg of homemade yogurt and a cup of tea.
- Second breakfast: a glass of kefir.
- Lunch: vegetable casserole and 0. 1 kg of lean boiled meat.
- Dinner: vegetable salad with homemade yogurt.
- Breakfast: two cucumbers, two sandwiches with low-fat cheese and a cup of tea.
- Second snack: two small fruits of your choice.
- Lunch: chicken broth and 0. 1 kg of vegetable casserole.
- Dinner: two cucumbers and a portion of boiled mussels.
- Breakfast: rice boiled in water and a cup of tea.
- Second breakfast: a glass of kefir and an apple.
- Lunch: a portion of low-fat borscht and 0. 1 kg of boiled chicken breast.
- Dinner: cucumber and tomato salad and 0. 2 kg of boiled shrimp.
- Breakfast: 2 baked apples, a portion of cottage cheese and a cup of tea.
- Second breakfast: a glass of kefir and bread.
- Lunch: a plate of lean fish soup.
- Dinner: steamed vegetables.
- Breakfast: cucumber, sandwich (bread + thin slice of boiled chicken breast) and a cup of tea.
- Second breakfast: a glass of fermented baked milk and an apple.
- Lunch: a bowl of low-fat chicken broth.
- Dinner: vegetable salad and 0. 1 kg of cottage cheese.
- Breakfast: a portion of cottage cheese, two cucumbers, one hard-boiled egg and a cup of tea.
- Second snack: two small fruits of your choice.
- Lunch: a plate of low-fat borscht and 0. 1 kg of stewed mushrooms.
- Dinner: boiled chicken breast (0. 1 kg) and vegetable salad.
- Breakfast: buckwheat porridge boiled in water, a hard-boiled egg and a cup of tea.
- Second snack: small fruit of your choice.
- Lunch: a plate of vegetable broth and 0. 15 kg pollock baked in its own juice without adding spices.
- Dinner: an apple and 0. 2 kg of cottage cheese, the fat content of which does not exceed 7%.
- Breakfast: a portion of oatmeal boiled in water and a cup of tea. If desired, you can flavor the porridge with raisins, and with the tea you can eat bread with a thin slice of cheese.
- Second breakfast: a glass of low-fat kefir.
- Lunch: a portion of low-fat meat broth and 0. 2 kg of stewed vegetables.
- Dinner: fruit salad seasoned with a tablespoon of cream or homemade yogurt.
Result:Since this diet is classified as moderate, you can stick to it even with increased daily activity. In two weeks, with its help, you can lose about 5-7 kg, which (if you stick to a similar menu, but without coal) will not return in the future.
Black or white: choosing the "right" coal
Today, the range of drugs is huge. So, if earlier only black activated carbon could be purchased in the pharmacy, today, along with it, pharmacists offer tablets with white carbon. Advertising of a fashionable new product promises buyers a milder effect, removal of only toxins from the body and the possibility of long-term (over 2 weeks) courses.
The only thing is that the instructions for use of both drugs are almost identical, and nanorobots (which could reliably determine which element harms the body and which helps) are not included in white coal. Also, if traditional black coal costs a penny, you will have to pay several times more for white coal. Whether such a "game" is worth the candle, decide for yourself.
Let's summarize the above. As practice shows, activated carbon for weight loss will be ineffective. Without the help of other solutions (diets, exercises), with its help you can lose at most 2-3 kilograms. In this case, an overdose of the drug threatens serious problems with the body. However, if you need to quickly cleanse your body, for example after a large feast, you will not find a better solution. Plus, it's always available and cheap.