Carbon tablets have long been known as an excellent tool for poisoning various etiologies and intestinal disorders. Recently, its use is advertised and as a way to lose excess pounds. Before you start taking the drug, it is important to find out everything about activated charcoal - the benefits and harms caused by the medication can have an undesirable relationship.
Activated carbon is a benefit
To obtain the drug under consideration, carbonaceous raw materials are used, which by high-temperature roasting is converted into a compacted mass with a huge amount of microscopic pores. These are due to the main property of the drug - catalytic reduction and adsorption.
The use of activated carbon for the body is its ability to absorb and bind toxic compounds, metal salts, chloramines and other harmful substances. The porous structure of carbon attracts negatively charged ions and keeps them inside the crystal lattice, not allowing to penetrate into the bloodstream and be absorbed into the mucous membranes of internal organs.
The above mechanisms make it clear what is the use of activated carbon:
- elimination of intoxication;
- relief of indigestion, bloating, flatulence ;
- an obstacle to the processes of fermentation and putrefaction in the intestine;
- normalization of the stool with diarrhea;
- removal of symptoms of allergic bronchial asthma or atopic dermatitis;
- a decrease in the secretion of gastric juice;
- prevention of toxic syndrome in salmonellosis, dysentery, viral and chronic hepatitis, renal failure, liver cirrhosis.
In addition, the agent is actively used to purify the digestive system on the eve of ultrasound or X-ray studies to reduce the amount of microflora released gases.
Activated carbon - side effects and harm
Strange as it may seem, the negative sides of the described medicine are explained by the same chemical and physical properties as the positive ones.
The ability of the carbonaceous mass to absorb molecules of various substances also concerns useful compounds - vitamins, minerals, trace elements. Moreover, coal significantly hinders their absorption, so the body is rapidly depleted.
Another drawback of the drug can be considered its property to absorb a large amount of water. If you do not take enough fluid during therapy, activated charcoal will quickly cause dehydration and constipation, and this is fraught with aggravation of intoxication and severe liver damage.
It should also be noted that the remedy has many contraindications:
- exacerbation of gastric ulcer, 12 duodenal ulcer;
- hypersensitivity to carbon compounds;
- propensity to constipation;
- hemorrhoids;
- obstruction, intestinal atony and internal bleeding;
- simultaneous reception of other sorbents and antitoxic agents.
Harm of activated carbon for the body when losing weight
In an effort to reduce weight, some women begin to take this drug to withdraw from the digestive tract mythical "slag" and speed up the metabolism. Such diets are not only ineffective, but also very dangerous. Gastroenterologists note that uncontrolled long reception of activated charcoal without indications for its use leads to the development of irritable bowel syndrome, hypovitaminosis, constipation and intestinal obstruction . In addition, the use of sorbent provokes severe dehydration and disrupts hematopoietic functions.