The Daily Mind

Daily Steps To Mindful Living

Nutrition

Can Activated Charcoal Boost Your Immune System?

Taking activated charcoal has a plethora of benefits. Because of its potent detoxification properties, it helps flush toxins, heavy metals, and other unwanted substances out of the body. In other words, it helps cleanse your gut, reset your internal organs, and boost your immune system.

There are several ways you can incorporate activated charcoal in your daily life. Read on, below.

1. As a remedy for gas and bloating

If you feel that your digestion is off, activated charcoal may help soothe pain associated with mild indigestion.

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It’s available in ready-to-drink capsules but can also be taken in powder form. Try mixing a teaspoon of activated charcoal powder in your water or even breakfast smoothie.

2. As a teeth whitener

For yellowing teeth, try using toothpaste infused with activated charcoal. Much like toxins in your body, it binds onto and effectively remove plaque, food debris, and other surface stains. As a result, you get visibly whiter and cleaner looking teeth.

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Activated charcoal also helps restore the natural pH balance in your mouth, thereby preventing cavities and bad breath.

3. As a facial mask

There are many skincare products and clay masks infused with activated charcoal, although you can easily DIY it at home. For oily or acne-prone skin, it helps decongest sebum-clogged pores, slough away dead skin cells, and eliminate harmful bacteria.

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Incorporating activated charcoal in your skincare routine can help give you visibly radiant, even-toned skin and a smoother complexion.

4. As water filtration

Tap water may contain harmful chemicals and toxins. Using an activated charcoal water filter can help purify the water in your home, making it safe to drink.

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Studies also show that activated charcoal filters removes some fluoride in water. Avoiding fluoride may lead to better immune functioning and improved internal organ health.

As with all other supplements, do consult with your physician or healthcare professional as to how much and how often you should take activated charcoal. Moreover, always listen to your body and see if this is something you do need in your daily life.

Should You Take Probiotics?

When you see or hear the word bacteria, you most probably think of the harmful microorganisms that wreak havoc in our bodies. After all, much of our daily routine involves getting rid of bad bacteria—from washing our hands with antibacterial soap, to cleaning our homes with disinfectants. Rarely do we think about good bacteria—the kind that our bodies actually need, the kind that actually live inside our bodies.

That’s right—our bodies are teeming with trillions of microorganisms. The plethora of microbes in the human body is most often referred to as the gut microbiome, and it is essential to our overall health.

[Read more…] about Should You Take Probiotics?

Monday Meditation: How To Practice Mindful Eating

For most of us, mealtime is just another item in our daily to-do list. And on particularly busy or stressful days, it’s easy to forget to eat altogether.

However, practicing mindful eating can help reduce stress and anxiety, improve your relationship with food, and promote better digestion. Below is a quick mindful eating exercise that you can try the next time you sit down for a meal. [Read more…] about Monday Meditation: How To Practice Mindful Eating