If you love learning about all of the latest nutrition fads as much as I do, you’ve probably noticed an interesting trend lately. Our food and personal care products are turning black! So, what’s giving ice cream, facial cleansers and even toothpaste a dark new hue? Activated charcoal!
Foods and products containing activated charcoal claim to help your body kill bacteria and rid itself of toxins. The cleansing and detoxifying qualities they boast make activated charcoal seem like it must have magical powers. But as with any other wellness trend that seems to suddenly to pick up steam, I had to wonder whether or not the products live up to those promises.
Since I thought you might be wondering the same thing, I did some digging. Now I’ve got all the deets on activated charcoal—ready to dive in?
What is activated charcoal?
Activated charcoal (aka activated carbon) isn’t just the stuff at the bottom of your grill pan. It’s made by burning coconut shells or wood, grinding them and combining the ash with an acid to activate it. The resulting paste is spread out on on a flat surface to dry, then bake. Sounds like something that you wouldn’t want in your body, right?
Well, this process gives charcoal a ton of surface area and a negative charge, which means it’s like a magnet, giving it the ability to attract and expel toxins from your system. That’s why it’s been used since the 1800s as a highly effective remedy for poisonings and overdoses—it quickly binds to contaminants and prevents absorption.
Today, people are going crazy for activated charcoal for other reasons—let’s chat about what’s got everyone so excited!
What are the benefits of activated charcoal?
Also Read : The Benefits of Green Tea for Your Skin
