Natural Detoxifiers – Activated Charcoal & Bentonite Clay
You may have noticed, considering that we have a 7-Day Smoothie Cleanse and an organic superfood smoothie delivery literally named detox smoothie, that we’re BIG on getting toxins out of your body! Detoxifying and cleansing your body is important to let your body function at it’s best. That’s why we LOVE all-natural detoxifiers like activated charcoal and bentonite clay.
ACTIVATED CHARCOAL & BENTONITE CLAY
These two natural elements come straight from Mother Earth and provide powerful cleansing & detoxifying effects on the body. Activated charcoal and bentonite clay are not related, yet both have similar qualities and capabilities aside from cleansing when it comes to your health. Today’s post focuses on the beneficial qualities both have to offer and also how they differ. Never heard of either of these beauties? Keep reading more to learn what all the buzz is about!
Also read: detox smoothies that promote weight loss
Activated Charcoal
Activated charcoal absorbs poisons from the body, including heavy metals. It reduces intestinal gas and bloating, lowers cholesterol levels and even heals hangovers.
The reason for its effectiveness is because of its negatively charged, porous surface. Most toxic chemicals and gases have a positive charge to them. Because charcoal has a negative charge, positively charged chemicals are attracted to it to create a perfect bond.
Activated charcoal uses adsorption when detoxing the body. Although activated charcoal is famous for cleansing, it has many other qualities and uses. Below is a list of just some of the awesome benefits activated charcoal has to offer.
Whitens Teeth
Activated charcoal is the best alternative to the convenient yet harmful whitening kits. You can either open a capsule of the charcoal directly on your toothbrush and brush your teeth just as you would toothpaste or make it into a paste first. Because charcoal is a bit messy, it’s best to whiten at night in case you do get some on your clothes or face.
Helps Prevent Hangovers
We mentioned that charcoal is known for absorbing poisons safely because of its toxin attracting negative charge but it can also prevent hangovers as well. To use as a hangover prevention, take 2-3 capsules before consuming alcohol.
Shortens the Effects of Food Poisoning
Activated charcoal is highly successful in treating drug and alcohol poisoning as well as food poisoning. Toxins bind to the surface of the charcoal and pull it out of the body to significantly shorten illness. If for NO OTHER REASON, keep a bottle on hand because we all know food poisoning hits without warning. You’ll thank us later!
Aids Bug Bites & Rashes
Charcoal can be used to treat acne, relieve poison ivy and poison oak rashes, relieve bug bites and even treat spider and snake bites. For acne treatment: make a face mask mixing charcoal with water or pure aloe vera gel, leave on face until dry and rinse.
*NOTE: activated charcoal masks will cause you to break out initially because it literally pulls grime to the surface of your pores but after a week or so the breakouts will stop once all the toxins are removed.
How to Cleanse with Activated Charcoal
To cleanse with activated charcoal, simply take it 2 days each week making sure the days are consecutive. Take a total of 20 to 35 grams each day divided into two or three doses. Take in the morning, at midday, and before bed on an empty stomach. Try to avoid processed foods and overeating on those days. Stick to whole, organic foods. (Or try a superfood smoothie as a meal replacement!)
Bentonite Clay
Bentonite clay is actually made of volcanic ash which gives it a powerful vitamin and mineral content. It works slightly different from activated charcoal but just as well at removing toxins, if not better.
When bentonite clay is hydrated, it acts as a porous sponge because it’s a swelling clay. Like activated charcoal, it also has a strong negative charge attracting positively charged toxins pulling them through the body.
The difference between activated charcoal and bentonite clay is that when bentonite clay absorbs toxins, it releases its minerals for the body to use. These minerals include silica, calcium, magnesium, sodium, iron, and potassium to name a few.
Bentonite clay also helps to get oxygen into the cells because it has the ability to pull excess hydrogen from the cells, leaving room for oxygen to take its place. More oxygen in your cells = more energy and better immunity.
Other amazing properties of bentonite clay include but are not limited to:
Boosts Gut Health & Alleviates Digestive Issues
Bentonite clay seeks the bad bacteria that causes problems in your gut which promotes the survival of the good bacteria that we need in the body. Because it works so well at neutralizing bacteria, bentonite clay will also alleviate digestive issues including nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
Want another all-natural way to detoxify? Try our smoothie cleanse!
Remineralizes Teeth & Boosts Oral Health
Just like bentonite clay seeks harmful bacteria in your body, it also seeks out harmful bacteria in your mouth when used as an oral rinse or made into a polishing paste. When bacteria is absorbed, the clays minerals are released strengthening your teeth and protecting the enamel. Simply add water to the clay. Add a little to make a paste, add a lot to make a rinse.
Alkalizes the Body
Proper digestion requires enzymes that are made from alkalizing minerals. So when alkalizing foods do not enter the body, acidity remains high and digestion suffers. Bentonite clay contains alkalizing minerals, which brings the level of the body’s pH to a better balance between acidity and alkalinity.
Heals Skin Conditions & Promote a Better Complexion
Because of the clay minerals ability to act as an antibiotic treatment when applied topically to the skin, it can help to calm skin infections and speed up the healing time of wounds or eczema. This healing clay can be used as a bentonite clay mask as well to reduce breakouts, alleviate redness, calm irritation from lotions or face washes, and even helps cure poison ivy. Simply add water to the clay to make a paste and apply it to the desired area, let dry and rinse clean. Repeat as many times as needed for desired results.
How to Cleanse with Bentonite Clay
Before anything, it is super important to make sure that the clay you purchase is FOOD GRADE bentonite clay meaning it is safe for internal consumption. Simply add 1/2 tsp to 1 tsp of clay to 1 cup of water and drink 2x a day for 2 weeks. It’s important when cleansing to not use any metal utensils or bowls to mix the clay as the metal will decrease the effectiveness of the clay.
* NOTE: There are two popular types of bentonite clay: calcium bentonite clay and sodium bentonite clay. Calcium bentonite clay will work better for internal uses (gut and colon cleansing) and sodium bentonite clay will work better for external uses (masks, ointments, baths.)
Learn more about Smoothies and Weight Loss.
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For organic superfood smoothie delivery, check out our Organic Detox smoothie, our 7-Day Smoothie Cleanse or our Keto Smoothie Variety Box.
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