Ever come back from a vacation or weekend of unhealthy binging and feel like you’re in need of a serious detox? I know that I certainly have.
Whether it’s junk food, alcohol, or perhaps a combo of both, we all have those thoughts of “I’m never eating like this again,” or “I’m never drinking again!”
Having just gotten back from a winter of traveling, I am very familiar with these feelings. There are only so many stomach aches a person can take until you try to do something about it.
Disclosure: There are some affiliate links below, but these are all products I highly recommend. I wouldn’t put anything on my website that I haven’t tried or personally used.
Enter my secret detox trick and hangover hack: activated charcoal.
First and foremost, please note that I am neither a doctor nor healthcare provider. Full disclaimer here.
I first learned about activated charcoal in Dave
I like to think of it as the ultimate weapon to removing poisons from your body, as it is commonly used to treat drug overdoses and alcohol poisoning.
Activated charcoal also serves as a remedy for digestion issues, bloating, and gas. It has anti-aging properties and lowers cholesterol. You can even use it as a teeth-whitener!
Because it serves as a general detoxifier, it removes bad breath and body odors as well. I think it’s an awesome supplement to kick start a detox or heath kick!
I tend to carry a baggie of activated charcoal in every purse.
No joke. I have no shame about it! If I know I’m in for some rogue eating, I’ll take one or two capsules during or immediately after my meal. 7+ tacos later, I’ll also use it whenever I experience cramping, bloating, or nausea. Not to mention, it’s great to use if you feel like you have food poisoning.
When drinking alcohol, I typically take two capsules at the end of the night, just after I have finished drinking. Works like a charm in preventing a bad hangover.
It’s important to note that this detoxifier works fast. I have tried taking activated charcoal while drinking, as opposed to after drinking, and unfortunately, you lose the fun, tipsy effects of drinking!
If you’re trying to prevent a hangover, make sure you take it the night of drinking rather than the morning after. Activated charcoal will flush the toxins out of your stomach by the next morning.
So where can I buy it?!
I don’t know Dave Asprey personally, but If I had to trust a complete stranger with the fate of my health, I’d choose him. Naturally, his Activated Coconut Charcoal is my favorite. You can buy it on Amazon or through the Bulletproof Website.
Although it’s a bit pricey in my opinion, it’s worth it. His Activated Coconut Charcoal is very fine and highly purified. I swear he’s a supplement whisperer.
Another good and cheaper option that I’ve used is Country Life Activated Charcoal. I’ve bought it on Amazon, and it’s only $11.
Activated charcoal also comes in powder form, but I think capsules are easier to take on the go.
If you’d like to make detox water or drink, you can try the powder form or open a capsule of the activated charcoal and drop it into your water.
Pro tip: add some lemon to make an activated charcoal lemonade!
PLEASE BE CAREFUL WITH THIS POWERFUL SUPPLEMENT!
It’s very important to note that activated charcoal takes all the toxins out of your system. Meaning, if you’re taking medication or other supplements, there are high chances that this powerful detoxifier will remove these from your system as well.
Never take this with prescription medications.
Again, I’m not a doctor, but to be safe, just don’t take activated charcoal with prescription medications. Run everything by your doctor first.
If you’re going to take activated charcoal while also taking supplements, Dave
It’s important to also note that whenever you take activated charcoal, you should drink plenty of water. Water helps to continue to flush the toxins out of your system and rehydrate your body. Taking too much activated charcoal without a magnesium supplement can also cause constipation.
If you’re interested in learning more in-depth about this powerful detoxifier, I suggest heading over to Dave Asprey’s Blog or picking up a copy of The Bulletproof Diet. This book really helped mold my perspective on nutrition (blog post to come!).
Happy detoxifying days ahead!
Related:
Sources:
Aspery, Dave. “Activated Charcoal: The Natural Way to Detox and Slow Down Aging.” Bulletproof Blog.
