Simplex Carvao Vegetal is a supplement made up of activated charcoal that comes in the form of capsules or tablets that works by absorbing toxins and chemicals in the body.
It has a variety of health benefits, such as decreased intestinal gas and abdominal pain, teeth whitening, poisoning prevention, and surf prevention.
Nowadays, it’s most typically used in medical settings to treat drug overdoses or as an anti-poison emergency treatment.
Other advantages of activated charcoal include less gas and flatulence, decreased cholesterol levels, and enhanced renal function. Some believe it whitens your teeth, filters water, and even helps hangovers.
Still, you may be wondering how many of these assertions are scientifically supported.
What exactly is activated charcoal?
Activated charcoal is made porous by being heated with oxygen at extremely high temperatures. This treatment alters its internal structure by shrinking pores and increasing surface area.
The fine black powder that results is either marketed as it is or encapsulated as supplements. Activated charcoal is also used in a variety of culinary and non-food items, including ice cream and toothpaste.
The advantages and applications of activated charcoal
Activated charcoal has a number of potential health benefits.
However, some of these advantages are based on decades-old research, so their validity should be questioned.
Furthermore, you should not self-administer activated charcoal as a poison or overdose treatment. If you suspect poisoning or an overdose, you should seek emergency medical attention right away.
Anti-poison emergency treatment
Since the early 1800s, activated charcoal has been used as an. This is due to the fact that it can bind to a wide range of drugs, reducing their effects.
This substance has the potential to be used to treat overdoses caused by both prescription and over-the-counter medications such as aspirin, acetaminophen, and sedatives.
It is important to note that activated charcoal is not effective in all cases of poisoning. For example, it appears to have little effect on alcohol, heavy metals, iron, lithium, potassium, acid, or alkali poisoning.
Improve kidney function
Activated charcoal may improve kidney function by reducing the amount of waste that your kidneys must filter.
This may be especially beneficial for people suffering from chronic kidney disease. Normal kidneys are very well equipped to filter your blood, but this condition reduces your kidneys’ ability to remove urea and other toxins.
Activated charcoal may bind to urea and other toxins, aiding your body in its elimination.
Diffusion allows urea and other waste products to pass from the bloodstream into the gut. They bind to activated charcoal in your gut and are excreted in your stool.
Fish odor syndrome symptoms may be reduced.
In people with trimethylaminuria (TMAU), also known as fish odor syndrome, activated charcoal may help reduce unpleasant odors.
TMAU is a genetic condition in which your body accumulates trimethylamine (TMA), a compound that smells like rotting fish.
TMA is normally converted into an odorless compound by your body before excreting it through urine, but people with TMAU lack the enzyme required to perform this conversion. TMA accumulates and enters urine, sweat, and breath, resulting in a foul, fishy odor.
According to research, the porous surface of activated charcoal may bind to small, odorous compounds like TMA, increasing their excretion.
Cholesterol levels may be reduced.
Activated charcoal may aid in cholesterol reduction.
According to researchers, activated charcoal may bind to cholesterol and cholesterol-containing bile acids in your gut, preventing them from being absorbed.
Other Potential Uses of Activated Charcoal
Activated charcoal is a popular home remedy for a variety of other ailments, and it’s also used for a variety of household and cosmetic purposes. However, science does not support the majority of these claimed benefits.
- Gas Reduction
According to one recent study, taking activated charcoal 8 hours before an abdominal ultrasound reduces the amount of gas in your gut, making it easier to obtain a clear ultrasound image. Activated charcoal can also absorb intestinal gases, which reduces swelling, pain, and discomfort.
- Diarrhea relief:
Activated charcoal may help treat diarrhea to some extent.
- Filtration of water:
Activated charcoal may aid in water filtration by removing contaminants, suspended solids, and microorganisms such as bacteria — all without affecting the pH or taste of the water.
- Whitening of the teeth:
Anecdotally, when used as a mouth rinse or in toothpaste, this substance is said to whiten teeth. It is said to do so by absorbing plaque and other tooth-staining substances. However, no studies back up this claim.
- Preventing hangovers:
Activated charcoal is occasionally promoted as a hangover cure. However, because this substance does not effectively absorb alcohol, this benefit is extremely unlikely.
- Treatment for the skin:
This substance is said to treat acne, dandruff, and insect or snake bites when applied to the skin. However, almost no evidence backs up these claims.
Are charcoal supplements safe?
In most cases, activated charcoal is considered safe, and adverse reactions are uncommon.
However, it may cause some unpleasant side effects, the most common of which is vomiting.
Activated charcoal has been linked to bowel blockages in extremely rare cases. If you have gut motility disorders, take opioid or antimuscarinic medications, or take MDAC, you may be at a higher risk.
This supplement also inhibits the intestine’s absorption of vitamins, minerals, and medications.
So it should be used rarely and at different times than other medications.
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