Taking activated charcoal before drinking can reduce hangovers and liver load. Activated charcoal has long been used in emergency rooms to bind to poisons. It’s a highly absorbent substance that traps chemicals and toxins in the gut before they get absorbed into the bloodstream.

Dave Asprey points out that taking activated charcoal before drinking can reduce not just the hangover the next day but also gas, bloating, and toxic load on the liver. This isn’t magic, it works mechanically. Charcoal sticks to substances like congeners (toxic by-products found in alcohol) and helps move them out of the system more efficiently.

Activated charcoal doesn’t absorb alcohol itself but can bind to some of the harmful chemicals consumed alongside or produced by alcohol metabolism. It’s easily available and doesn’t require a prescription.

[This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a healthcare provider before starting any new supplement, especially when consuming alcohol. The views expressed by the expert are his own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this publication.]