Be Naturally Prepared: The Power Of Activated Charcoal

When it comes to efficient, multi-functional products, it seems that coconut oil gets all the glory, but take a look at the long list of uses that activated charcoal has and you’ll see it may just rival coconut oil. One jar of activated charcoal can serve a multitude of purposes for both beauty and health. It can do everything from easing an upset tummy, to healing a blemish and even whitening your teeth. I’ve been trying it for different uses, but mostly I’ve been using it to whiten my teeth naturally!

So what is it exactly? Activated charcoal is made from heating substances like wood, coconut shells, wool, etc. in the presence of a gas until they develop tons of tiny divots and holes on the surface, making it one of the most porous items you can find. According to my brother (A.K.A. the nuclear physicist and all around science nerd), because of the numerous pores on the surface, it’s able to absorb a high amount of substances it’s introduced to. The most common uses for activated charcoal include: treating a poisoning or stomach bug, insect bites, bee stings, purifying pores in a face mask, detoxifying the body (but as my brother warns, it does not discriminate between healthy nutrients and toxins so take it on an empty stomach and don’t eat or take vitamins right afterwards) and finally, whitening teeth. 

I have to admit, at a certain point in my life I whitened my teeth often with professional kits from my dentist, white strips and even whitening products like toothpastes. Nothing looks better than a glowing smile, right? The only thing is, most of these methods are either abrasive to your teeth, contain hydrogen peroxide which can burn gums or even your throat and stomach lining if swallowed, or they contain some other toxic ingredients that you inevitably end up ingesting a little of as it sits in your mouth. I have snuck over to the dark side (or maybe I should say light side?) a few times since turning all natural, I have to admit. I can’t stand having dull teeth, but I really wanted a natural answer instead and activated charcoal has proven to be just that! 

I like to use Be Naturally Prepared’s Activated Charcoal Powder, which is made with coconut shells. Generally I mix a little (maybe a half teaspoon) with water into a paste and then I gently apply it to my teeth being careful not to scrub at all. Some dental professionals consider this to be abrasive enough to wear down enamel over time, so they warn against scrubbing. I leave the paste on for 3-5 minutes and enjoy scaring my children with my dark teeth lol, then I swish it around for a bit before spitting it out. Inevitably you will end up swallowing a bit of it, but it is completely safe to ingest. This definitely makes my teeth look brighter and they even feel so much cleaner and smoother afterwards! This is a more gradual approach than something like white strips. It may take a bit longer to see the same results, but given that it’s 100% nontoxic and safe, I’d say that’s a good trade off. 

Interested in switching over to activated charcoal? Be Naturally Prepared is a shop curated to have only the best products for health and wellness by husband and wife team Ken Harding and Heather Stewart. They have some really intriguing and awesome products! Their whole shop is full of items that they use daily and highly recommend to anyone trying live more naturally. Check out their selection and use code BENATURALLY10 for 10% off of your order!