We’re going to get a bit technical here.
Yet, I think this concept is important to understand, especially in regards to both wholesome nutrition and effective supplementation.
Let’s first cover absorption.
Defined: Absorption
Most people recognize this word.
It naturally comes to mind if you’re deep in this health realm when you think about eating and the process through which your body digests food.
With absorption, a fluid (the absorbate) is dissolved by or permeates a liquid or solid (the absorbent).
I quote from wikipedia:
“Digested food is able to pass into the blood vessels in the wall of the intestine through either diffusion or active transport. The small intestine is the site where most of the nutrients from ingested food are absorbed.
The inner wall, or mucosa, of the small intestine, is lined with simple columnar epithelial tissue. Structurally, the mucosa is covered in wrinkles or flaps called circular folds, which are considered permanent features in the mucosa.
They are distinct from rugae which are considered non-permanent or temporary allowing for distention and contraction. From the circular folds project microscopic finger-like pieces of tissue called villi (Latin for "shaggy hair").
The individual epithelial cells also have finger-like projections known as microvilli.
The functions of the circular folds, the villi, and the microvilli are to increase the amount of surface area available for the absorption of nutrients, and to limit the loss of said nutrients to intestinal fauna.
Considering that most people have digestive issues (ranging in severity), there’s inherently going to be some problem with absorbing food and food grade supplements effectively.
It’s not just what you eat that matters.
How well you can absorb it is a better proxy of digestive health and capability.
Absorption of the majority of nutrients takes place in the jejunum, with the following notable exceptions:
Iron is absorbed in the duodenum.
Folate (Vitamin B9) is absorbed in the duodenum and jejunum.
Vitamin B12 and bile salts are absorbed in the terminal ileum. Vitamin B12 will only be absorbed by the ileum after binding to a protein known as intrinsic factor.
Water is absorbed by osmosis and lipids by passive diffusion throughout the small intestine.
Sodium bicarbonate is absorbed by active transport and glucose and amino acid co-transport
Fructose is absorbed by facilitated diffusion.
If your digestive health is off, it’s the first order of business to fix your overall health since the gut is central to the entire system. I highly suggest you follow and work with brother Alejandro on Twitter. He’s helped me big time.
Defined: Adsorption
This is where it gets fun.
Few people know about adsorption, let alone how they can effectively utilize it to better their health and reduce toxicity.
I first became aware of this process when I started using Cymbiotika’s Activated Charcoal. This incredible supplement is a powerhouse.
Activated charcoal doesn’t absorb toxins. Instead, it works through the chemical process of adsorption. In the body, absorption is the reaction of elements, including nutrients, chemicals and toxins, soaked up and assimilated into the bloodstream.
It works by trapping toxins and chemicals in its millions of tiny pores.
Have you ever looked at a sponge?
Imagine one the size of a bar of soap… about 1x2x4 inches.
A bar of soap that size has a total surface area of about 20-24 square inches. A sponge that size has thousands of pores, so its total surface area might be 100x, or 2000 square inches, or more.
Activated carbon has 100x or more surface area than a natural sponge, because it’s made by forcing steam or similar hot, powerful gas through some carbon powder (often from coconut shells, peat, or similar natural material) in a fluidized bed that keeps the carbon particles “afloat.”
Activated carbon and many other catalysts work on the same principle - they are incredibly porous. All those voids create gigantic surface areas, typically about 500–1500 square meters for every gram, or as much surface area as a football field or soccer pitch.
That’s the power of activated charcoal and why I cycle it religiously to further improve my health by detoxifying the body.
It comes with a myriad of use cases:
Whitening teeth (great for oral health)
Reducing bloating and gas
Treating food and alcohol poisoning
Mold cleansing
Water filtration
Emergency toxin removal (Most organic compounds, pesticides, mercury, fertilizer and bleach bind to activated charcoals surface, allowing for quicker elimination, while preventing their absorption in the body).
I wrote a thread on it. Refer to it below.
That pretty much covers it.
Now, a few key points on how to wisely take activated charcoal.
Take it on an empty stomach (90-120 minutes prior to any meals, supplements or medications). This is very important.
Cycle and use it every few months (This is not something you take daily).
Have it handy in case you get struck with food poisoning.
Look for activated charcoal made with coconut shells or identified wood species that have ultra-fine grains. Not all activated charcoal supplements are created equal (that’s why I love Cymbiotika).
Much love,
Zaid