Written by: Kavata Kithome
Activated charcoal is all the rage these days. The only thing I knew about the stuff was the lumps of charcoal that my grandmother and mother used on our clay stove to cook our meals.
I was intrigued when I found that I could use activated charcoal to detox and I had to know more. Celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow and wellness leaders have declared activated charcoal to be the best way to rid your body of toxins.
Does that all sound miraculous? Sure! But is it too good to be true? This is what I have learned so far.
As you may know, your body’s main ally in detoxification is the liver. This vital organ works hard to keep your hormones balanced and to keep PMS, cramps, endometriosis, PCOS and other troublesome conditions at bay. This is why I always encourage detoxing your liver.
How Does Activated Charcoal Work?
Activated charcoal works by attaching to chemicals it encounters in the body and preventing absorption. This is great if you’ve overdosed or have somehow been poisoned by a harmful substance; that’s why it’s often used in hospital emergency rooms.
It is noteworthy to know that it is not practical for everyday use. This is because it latches on to every chemical it encounters, which keeps you from absorbing medications you are taking and truly need. It can even make your healthy diet less nutritious, preventing your body from absorbing vital vitamins, minerals and micronutrients. Activated charcoal doesn’t know what your body wants and needs and it can’t discriminate between good and bad.
What Can You Do Instead?
Because of its indiscriminate nature, I think we should best leave the charcoal to heating my grandmother and mother’s stove. Instead, as the health coach I am, I am a huge fan of using the right foods to support the body’s natural detoxification system, which includes the liver, large intestine and lymphatic system.
When you eat the right nutrients to support these organs, your body will clear out excess estrogen, which is a central cause of many hormonal imbalance-related health issues. A buildup of toxins like excess hormones can lead to all sorts of menstrual, fertility and libido issues, so keeping the natural detoxification system running efficiently is essential to good health.
I recommend skipping the extreme solutions and instead incorporating these four(-plus) foods into your regular diet to support your body’s natural detoxification process:
1. Eggs
It’s essential for your liver that you eat an adequate amount of protein. Eggs provide the most easily assimilated bioavailable protein source out there.
2. Avocados, Carrots, Broccoli, Spinach, Apples, Asparagus And Melon
Okay, so we’re really talking about more than just four foods in this list. But what do these seemingly different edible delights all have in common? They’re all rich in glutathione, an antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals, supercharges the immune system and detoxifies the liver. This is one of the best ways to remove chemicals circulating in your body from environmental and food-based toxins.
3. Brazil Nuts
Selenium is an antioxidant that, like glutathione, can help boost immunity. It also protects the tissue of the liver from the effects of processing all those waste products. Brazil nuts are chock-full of selenium and oats are another great source.
4. Cilantro
Cilantro contains linalool, which helps to support the liver. Try adding the herb to salads and smoothies to get a daily fix.
A Delicious Smoothie Alternative To Activated Charcoal
Try blending up these ingredients at home for a delicious detox smoothie!
Ingredients:
Instructions: Throw all ingredients in the blender, blend, pour and enjoy!
Note: because I love a great green smoothie, I like to add a few handfuls of spinach, protein powder and one scoop of organifi for added nutrition and awesomeness.
Organifi is an amazing superfood powder that is absolutely delicious, use promocode: Kavata at organifi.com for a discount on this amazing product and try it out.
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