Ten years ago, activated carbon was considered a very effective tool to fight excess weight. It was then replaced by appetite regulators and various dietary supplements. However, today, when new drugs have become too expensive or have been discontinued altogether, a serious discussion has once again taken place about coal on the Internet. Therefore, let's understand how this remedy works and whether it can really help you get rid of extra pounds at home.
Useful features
Activated charcoal is a medicinal product, not a fat burning agent. 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 stands out are not the "melted" centimeters on the waist or problems, but:
- Stabilization of the digestive tract.
- Removal of toxins and other harmful substances from the body.
- It slightly slows down the aging process of the skin (due to increased fluid intake).
- It reduces cholesterol in the blood and, as a result, improves the function of the brain and cardiovascular system and accelerates metabolism.
- Improving the functioning of the liver, adrenal glands, kidneys and a number of other internal organs.
- There is no sedimentation, as 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 staphylococcus, dysentery and some airborne diseases (for example, flu).
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, in medical reference books you can find many other indications for its use. So those who suffer from:
- Metabolic disorders.
- Stomach disorders, fermentation, flatulence, diarrhea.
- The consequences of severe detoxification.
- Intoxication with alkaloids, salts of heavy metals and other harmful substances.
- Poisoning of various etiologies.
And this is just a short list of situations when it will be extremely useful. However, do not forget that you can take the drug not only once, but in a course only after the approval of your doctor, as you may have contraindications for taking it.
Contraindications
Although activated carbon cleaning is practiced everywhere, not everyone should use it. In addition to individual intolerance, reasons for refusal may include:
- Vitamin deficiency or metabolic disorder.
- Underage (under 14) or overage (over 65) of the person losing weight.
- Pregnancy and lactation in new mothers.
- Low blood pressure.
- The presence of problems in the gastrointestinal tract: colitis, duodenal ulcer or any other.
- The patient is taking certain medications (for example, antitoxin).
- Predisposition to constipation and bulimia, the 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 for 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 tool? In search of an answer to this question, let's turn to the experience of those who have already tested these pills themselves. According to reviews, in two weeks without using additional methods (effective diet, physical activity), people managed to lose about 2-4 kg. Furthermore, the greater the initial weight of the person losing weight, the better results he was able to achieve.
However, let's understand whether activated carbon really promotes weight loss? Not really. 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 carbon. It will be enough to drink a cup of still water at room temperature about 20-30 minutes before meals.
But what the drug does really well is cleanse the body. After a two-week course, many people notice:
- Improvement of skin condition: disappearance of black spots and oily shine.
- Appearance of tenderness in the body.
- Stabilization of intestinal function.
However, all this happens only if you take the medicine correctly. If you forget the measure and when consuming be guided by the principle "the more, the better", you can develop a number of complications.
Damage to the body
It seems that we have all known coal since 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, first of all, a medicinal product. This means that its overdose or improper use can cause damage to the body. This can be expressed in:
Avitaminosis and hypovitaminosis Activated carbon is an excellent absorbent, but it removes not only toxins from the body, but also nutrients.
External deterioration With prolonged use, you risk negating 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 slowing 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 cause any negative consequences. However, if you indulge too much, you will probably have problems with the gastrointestinal tract.
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.
Lowering blood pressure and thromboembolism
And all this is true only for completely healthy people. How self-medication or "grandmother's" prescription based on activated carbon will affect those who already suffer from any chronic disease, one can only guess. But it is clear that there is 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 only be noticeable if taken correctly. And it may turn out to be completely different from what you expect.
Dosage and administration rules
So, which method of application will give the optimal effect and will not cause irreparable damage? 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 medicine).
- The number of tablets to be taken per day (at least 3 approaches) is calculated by the formula: 1 tablet for every 10 kg of full 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 rate is 7 pieces, in the first 2-3 days it is better to take no more than 5 tablets, gradually increasing the dose. The same applies to the completion of the course.
- The dose is taken within an hour before or after meals. 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, be sure to take a break for at least 2 weeks.
- Take the tablets with boiled still water at room temperature. This will prevent all kinds of bacteria from entering the body and will help the medicine to start working faster.
- At the end of your appointment, be sure to contact your doctor so that he can prescribe a course of multivitamins (to restore the balance of vitamins in the body).
In addition, if you want the most benefits from taking activated charcoal, try to adhere to the following recommendations:
- Reduce the consumption of flour products and those containing sugar.
- Avoid alcohol completely.
- Eliminate foods high in sugar, fat and harmful elements from your daily menu.
- 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, evening jogging or swimming in the pool) provides a burst of energy and strength, rather than completely exhausting you.
Follow these simple rules and weight loss with activated charcoal will benefit you. Even if not all the extra pounds go away, you will feel much better than before starting the course.
Waiting variations
As already mentioned, many people actively start taking the drug in an attempt to lose weight. Therefore, let's look at the most popular methods and evaluate their effectiveness:
Option #1: Gentle
The gist:The diet of the person losing weight remains unchanged and additional efforts to lose weight are not considered. Tablets should be taken in an amount of 2 pieces 1. 5 hours - an hour before meals. The duration of the course varies from 10 days to two weeks.
Outcome:There will be no significant weight loss (maximum - 3-4 kilograms in 14 days). However (if other conditions remain unchanged), the lost centimeters will go away forever, lightness will appear in the body, bowel function will stabilize and daily activity will increase significantly.
Option # 2: Three-day diet
The gist:For 3 days, the person who loses weight adheres to a certain diet. Additional physical activity is not considered, but not prohibited.
Day 1 During the day, you can only eat activated carbon with kefir and water. Moreover, first take a few tablets (based on weight), washing them down with a glass of warm water without gas, 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 dressing or steamed vegetables without salt.
Outcome:This diet is one of the express diets and therefore you can lose up to 5 kg. However, the menu provides for a rather sudden 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 follow this diet during menstruation or when you are doing things that require increased attention and concentration.
If such a diet was easy for you, the course can be continued, extending it to 15 days. However, you should stop taking activated carbon and at the end of the diet, be sure to take a multivitamin.
Option #3: Two-week activated charcoal diet
The gist:For 14 days, the person losing weight eats according to a certain pattern, designed to gradually extinguish the feeling of hunger. At the same time, 30-60 minutes before meals (except for the second breakfast), he takes activated charcoal (2 tablets) with a glass of warm water without gas. When evaluating effectiveness, additional physical activity is not taken into account.
- Breakfast: a portion (0. 2 kg) of oats cooked in water and a glass of green or black tea without additives. If you want, you can adjust the porridge with raisins and with tea you can eat some bread with a thin piece 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 spoonful of sour cream or homemade yogurt.
- Breakfast: buckwheat cooked in water, as well as a hard-boiled egg and a glass of tea.
- Second breakfast: apple, kiwi or small banana.
- Lunch: vegetable juice and 0. 15 kg of Polish, baked in its own juice without adding spices.
- Dinner: 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 glass of tea.
- Second breakfast: 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 glass of tea.
- Breakfast: a plate of oatmeal cooked with low-fat milk, a glass of tea and a handful of raisins.
- Second breakfast: cucumber and two boiled eggs.
- Lunch: a bowl of lean fish soup. You can eat no more than 0. 1 kg of fish itself.
- Dinner: a portion of cottage cheese and a banana.
- Breakfast: 1 medium tomato, a sandwich (bread + thin slice of cheese) and a glass of tea.
- Second breakfast: 0. 05 kg of cottage cheese and a cup of low-fat milk. If you want, you can add some pieces of bread.
- Lunch: vegetable soup cooked in broth and 0. 1 kg of boiled meat without fat.
- Dinner: salad with fresh vegetables.
- Breakfast: buckwheat porridge cooked in water (without additives), a hard-boiled egg and cucumber.
- Second breakfast: a cup of low-fat kefir and a small fruit of your choice.
- Lunch: low-fat broth (0. 2 kg) and cucumber.
- Dinner: cottage cheese (0. 1 kg), seasoned with a spoonful of homemade yogurt (without additives).
- Breakfast: oatmeal cooked with milk, 0. 1 kg of homemade yogurt and a glass of tea.
- Second breakfast: a cup of kefir.
- Lunch: casserole with vegetables and 0. 1 kg of boiled meat without fat.
- Dinner: vegetable salad dressed with homemade yogurt.
- Breakfast: two cucumbers, two sandwiches with low-fat cheese and a glass of tea.
- Second breakfast: 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 cooked in water and a glass 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 serving of cottage cheese and a glass of tea.
- Second breakfast: a glass of kefir and bread.
- Lunch: a plate of fat-free fish soup.
- Dinner: steamed vegetables.
- Breakfast: cucumber, sandwich (bread + thin slices of boiled chicken breast) and a glass of tea.
- Second breakfast: a glass of baked fermented milk and an apple.
- Lunch: a bowl of low-fat chicken broth.
- Dinner: vegetable salad and 0. 1 kg of cottage cheese.
- Breakfast: a serving of cottage cheese, two cucumbers, a hard-boiled egg and a glass of tea.
- Second breakfast: two small fruits of your choice.
- Lunch: a plate of low-fat borscht and 0. 1 kg of boiled mushrooms.
- Dinner: boiled chicken breast (0. 1 kg) and vegetable salad.
- Breakfast: buckwheat porridge cooked in water, a hard-boiled egg and a glass of tea.
- Second breakfast: small fruit of your choice.
- Lunch: a plate of vegetable broth and 0. 15 kg of pollock, cooked in its own broth without adding spices.
- Dinner: apple and 0. 2 kg of cottage cheese, the fat content of which does not exceed 7%.
- Breakfast: a portion of oats boiled in water and a glass of tea. If you want, you can adjust the porridge with raisins and with tea you can eat some bread with a thin piece of cheese.
- Second breakfast: a glass of low-fat kefir.
- Lunch: a portion of low-fat broth and 0. 2 kg of boiled vegetables.
- Dinner: fruit salad, seasoned with a spoonful of sour cream or homemade yogurt.
Outcome: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 previously only activated carbon black could be bought in the pharmacy, today pharmacists also offer tablets with white carbon. Advertising for a new fashionable product promises buyers a milder effect, the removal of only toxins from the body and the possibility of taking long-term courses (over 2 weeks).
The only thing is that the instructions for use for both drugs are almost identical, and nanorobots (which can reliably determine which element harms the body and which helps) are not included in white coal. Moreover, 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 (diet, exercise), 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 clean your body quickly, for example, after a big party, you will not find a better solution. Moreover, it is always available and free.