Ten years ago, activated carbon was considered a fairly effective way to combat excess weight. Later it was replaced by appetite regulators and various food supplements. However, today, when new models of drugs have become too expensive or are no longer produced, serious discussions around coal are again developing on the Internet. Therefore, let's find out how this drug works, and whether it can really help you get rid of excess weight at home.
Useful features
Activated carbon is a medicinal product, not a fat burning agent. And it helps not so much those who want to get rid of excess weight, but those who need serious cleansing of the body. Therefore, among the positive manifestations of taking the drug, it is not "melting" centimeters at the waist or problems that come to the fore, but:
- Stabilization of the digestive tract.
- Eliminates toxins and other harmful substances from the body.
- Slightly slows down the skin aging process (due to increased fluid intake).
- Reduces blood cholesterol and, as a result, improves the function of the brain and cardiovascular system and speeds up metabolism.
- Improves the function of the liver, adrenal glands, kidneys and a number of other internal organs.
- There is no sedimentation, because the active elements of the drug are not absorbed, but are completely excreted from the body within 8-10 hours after administration.
- Reduces the possibility of contracting staphylococci, dysentery and some airborne diseases (eg influenza).
Indications for use
As for all types of diets (which we will consider in more detail below), the use of activated carbon is justified only in combination with other methods. However, in medical reference books you can find many other indications for its use. So, those who suffer:
- Metabolic disorders.
- Gastric disorders, fermentation, flatulence, diarrhea.
- The consequences of detoxification are severe.
- Poisoning with alkaloids, heavy metal salts and other dangerous substances.
- Poisoning of various etiologies.
And this is just a short list of situations where it will be very useful. However, do not forget that you can take this medication not only once, but only after obtaining your doctor's approval, because you may have contraindications to taking it.
Contraindications
Despite the fact that cleaning with activated carbon is done everywhere, not everyone should use it. In addition to individual intolerance, reasons for refusal may include:
- Vitamin deficiencies or metabolic disorders.
- The age of the person losing weight is insufficient (under 14 years) or excessive (over 65 years).
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding in young mothers.
- Low blood pressure.
- The presence of problems with the gastrointestinal tract: colitis, duodenal ulcer or others.
- The patient is taking certain medications (eg antitoxins).
- Tendency to constipation and bulimia, presence of intestinal dysbiosis.
- Internal bleeding (regardless of its origin).
As you can see, drinking it does not always bring benefits. 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 a doctor first.
Are there any results
Is charcoal effective as a weight loss tool? To find an answer to this question, let's turn to the experience of those who have 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. In addition, the greater the initial weight of a person who loses weight, the better results he can achieve.
However, let's find out whether activated carbon really promotes weight loss? Not too. It's just that when you start taking these tablets, you also increase your water intake. Having previously filled the stomach with water, a person eats less at the next meal. The result is weight loss. In other words, it is quite possible to achieve the same results in the same period without using activated carbon. Simply drink a cup of still water at room temperature about 20-30 minutes before eating.
But the medicine that really works well is cleansing the body. After a two-week course, many people note:
- Skin condition improves: disappearance of blackheads and oily shine.
- A feeling of lightness appears in the body.
- Stabilization of intestinal function.
However, all this only happens if you take the medicine correctly. If you forget the dosage and when consuming it are guided by the principle "the more the better", you can experience a number of complications.
Harm to the body
It seems that we have all known charcoal since childhood - as an excellent remedy for intestinal problems and excessive gas formation. So what negative consequences can we talk about? Remember that activated carbon is, first of all, a medicinal product. This means that overdose or inappropriate 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 setbacks
With long-term use, you risk eliminating all the positive effects of "cleansing": clean skin will become dull and blotchy, nails will become brittle, and hair will begin to fall out.
- Constipation
Excessive slowing of peristalsis is a serious cause of constipation, which is not far from diarrhea and hemorrhoids.
- Damage to the intestinal wall
Moderate use of the drug for two weeks will not cause negative consequences. However, if you get too carried away, you are guaranteed to experience gastrointestinal problems.
- Reduces the effects of taking other medications
Instead of having a restorative effect on the body, the beneficial substances and antibodies contained in the tablets will be actively excreted along with toxins.
- Reduces blood pressure and thromboembolism
And all this only applies to absolutely healthy people. How self-medication or "grandmother's" recipes based on activated carbon will affect those who already suffer from chronic diseases, one can only guess. But there is definitely no need to talk about repairs.
Of course, the above does not mean it is dangerous for health. It's just that the benefits will only be visible if consumed correctly. And the results may be very different from what you expected.
Dosage and administration rules
So, which method of application will provide the optimal effect and not cause irreparable harm? The appropriate course can only be determined by the attending physician who knows 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 the use of this drug).
- The number of tablets that must be taken per day (at least 3 approaches) is calculated by the formula: 1 tablet for every full 10 kg of body weight. In other words, if your weight is 50 kg, you need to take 5 tablets per day, if your weight is 113 kg - 11 tablets.
- The drug should be introduced into the daily menu gradually. If your norm is 7 pieces, in the first 2-3 days it is better to drink no more than 5 tablets, gradually increasing the dose. The same goes for completing courses.
- The dose is taken within one hour before or after meals. However, it's best not to drink it in the morning (on an empty stomach), it's best to drink it one hour after breakfast.
- After completing the course, make sure to take a break of at least 2 weeks.
- Take the tablets with boiling water at room temperature. This will prevent the entry of all types of bacteria into the body and help the medicine start working more quickly.
- At the end of your appointment, be sure to contact your doctor so that he can prescribe you a multivitamin (to restore the balance of vitamins in the body).
Additionally, if you want to get the maximum benefit from consuming activated charcoal, try following these recommendations:
- Reduce consumption of flour products and those containing sugar.
- Avoid alcohol completely.
- Eliminate dishes high in sugar, fat and harmful elements from your daily menu.
- Drink water (minimum 1 liter for every 30 kg of body weight, but a maximum of 2. 5 liters in total).
- Switch from coffee to weak tea without any additives.
- Increase your physical activity by ensuring that exercise (such as morning exercise, an afternoon jog, or a swim in the pool) provides a burst of energy and strength, rather than leaving you completely exhausted.
Follow these simple rules, and losing weight with activated charcoal will definitely benefit you. Even if the excess weight does not go away, you will feel much better than before starting the course.
Admission Variations
As already mentioned, many people begin to actively take medication in an effort to lose weight. Therefore, let's look at the most popular methods and evaluate their effectiveness:
Option #1: Soft
Essence:The diet of the person losing weight remains unchanged, and no additional efforts to lose weight are taken into account. Tablets should be taken in the amount of 2 pieces 1. 5 hours - one hour before meals. Course duration ranges from 10 days to two weeks.
Results: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, the body will feel light, bowel function will stabilize, and daily activity will improve significantly.
Option #2: Three-day diet
Essence:For 3 days, the person losing weight adheres to a certain diet. Additional physical activity is not counted, but is not prohibited.
- Day 1
During the day, you can only eat activated carbon with kefir and water. Moreover, first you take several tablets (by weight), wash them down with a glass of warm water, and after half an hour - a glass of kefir. If you are used to eating more than three times a day, then the portion size and number of tablets should be reduced. In this case, the break between meals should be at least 2-3 hours.
- Day 2
Today's "dish list" is exactly the same as last 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 vegetable salad with olive oil dressing or steamed vegetables without salt.
Results:This diet is an express diet, so as a result you can lose up to 5 kg of weight. However, the menu provides for a rather abrupt and radical rejection of products, which is not suitable for everyone. When you lose weight, you may experience severe headaches, weakness, and uncontrolled appetite (which may even cause you to gain weight). Therefore, you should not do this diet when you are menstruating or when you are doing things that require increased attention and concentration.
If such a diet is 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 diet with activated charcoal
Essence:For 14 days, people who are losing weight eat according to a certain pattern, which is designed to gradually eliminate the feeling of hunger. Meanwhile, 30-60 minutes before eating (except second breakfast), he drinks activated charcoal (2 tablets) with a glass of warm water. When assessing effectiveness, additional physical activity is not taken into account.
Day 1:
- Breakfast: one portion (0. 2 kg) of oatmeal cooked in water and a glass of green or black tea without additives. If you wish, you can season the porridge with raisins, and with 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.
Day 2:
- Breakfast: buckwheat cooked in water, as well as one boiled egg and a glass of tea.
- Second breakfast: apple, kiwi or small banana.
- Lunch: vegetable broth and 0. 15 kg of pollock, baked in its own juice without adding any spices.
- Dinner: apple and 0. 2 kg of cottage cheese, the fat content of which does not exceed 7%.
Day 3:
- 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 with low-fat sour cream.
- Dinner: vegetable casserole and a glass of tea.
Day 4:
- Breakfast: a plate of oatmeal cooked in low-fat milk, a glass of tea and a handful of raisins.
- Second breakfast: cucumber and two boiled eggs.
- Lunch: a bowl of soup made from lean fish. You can eat no more than 0. 1 kg of fish itself.
- Dinner: a portion of cottage cheese and banana.
Day 5:
- Breakfast: 1 medium sized tomato, 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 desired, you can add a few slices of bread.
- Lunch: vegetable soup cooked in meat broth and 0. 1 kg of lean boiled meat.
- Dinner: fresh vegetable salad.
Day 6:
- Breakfast: buckwheat porridge cooked in water (no additives), one boiled egg and cucumber.
- Second breakfast: a cup 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 (no additives).
Day 7:
- Breakfast: oatmeal cooked with milk, 0. 1 kg of homemade yogurt and a glass of tea.
- Second breakfast: a cup of kefir.
- Lunch: vegetable casserole and 0. 1 kg of lean boiled meat.
- Dinner: vegetable salad with homemade yogurt.
Day 8:
- 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 vegetable casserole.
- Dinner: two cucumbers and a portion of boiled mussels.
Day 9:
- Breakfast: cooked rice with 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.
Day 10:
- Breakfast: 2 baked apples, a portion of cottage cheese and a glass of tea.
- Second breakfast: a glass of kefir and bread.
- Lunch: a plate of lean fish soup.
- Dinner: steamed vegetables.
Day 11:
- Breakfast: cucumber, sandwich (bread + thin slices of boiled chicken breast) and a glass 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.
Day 12:
- Breakfast: a portion of cottage cheese, two cucumbers, a 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.
Day 13:
- Breakfast: buckwheat porridge cooked in water, 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, baked in its own juice without adding any spices.
- Dinner: apple and 0. 2 kg of cottage cheese, the fat content of which does not exceed 7%.
Day 14:
- Breakfast: a portion of oatmeal, boiled in water, and a glass of tea. If you wish, you can season the porridge with raisins, and with 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 boiled vegetables.
- Dinner: fruit salad, seasoned with a tablespoon of sour cream or homemade yogurt.
Results:Because this diet is considered moderate, you can continue to do 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.
Currently, there are many types of medicines. So, if previously you could only buy black activated carbon at pharmacies, now pharmacists also offer white carbon tablets. Advertising a fashionable new product promises buyers a milder effect, simply removing toxins from the body and the possibility of taking a long course (more than 2 weeks).
The only thing is that the instructions for use of both drugs are almost the same, and nanorobots (which can determine which elements harm the body and which help) 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. Is such a "game" worth it, decide for yourself.
Let's summarize the above. As practice shows, activated carbon for weight loss will not be effective. Without the help of other remedies (diet, exercise), with its help you can lose a maximum of 2-3 kilograms. In this case, an overdose of the drug threatens serious problems in the body. However, if you need to cleanse your body urgently, for example after a big party, you will not find a better solution. Plus, it's always available and cheap.