Another trendy myth: activated charcoal is not as useful as they say

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There is an opinion that activated charcoal is useful. Some people use it for any reason, as if it is a panacea for all diseases. Moreover, some celebrities, for example, Gwyneth Paltrow, claim that a drink with the addition of activated charcoal is one of the best cleansing agents. However, the cult of this product is somewhat exaggerated.

How did the myth arise?

High consumption of activated charcoal is certainly beneficial for those who produce it. Some manufacturers claim that activated charcoal can increase your energy, brighten your skin and reduce bloating.

However, the most well-known fact is that activated charcoal has excellent detoxification capabilities. This is due to the fact that it is used in emergency medicine to reduce the toxic load when a patient is poisoned. Activated charcoal is able to stop the absorption of poison.

However, the abilities of activated charcoal are often exaggerated due to the misinterpretation of its properties.

Why should you not take it?

Consuming activated charcoal may seem like a completely harmless habit.

• Activated charcoal interacts with some vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. It is added to fruit or vegetable juice, as well as food. However, this leads to the fact that the vitamins contained in fruits and vegetables are not absorbed. That is why it is better to drink regular juice.
• Activated charcoal can also interact with some medications, including antidepressants and anti-inflammatory drugs, reducing their effectiveness. This can cause serious consequences. However, the manufacturers of activated charcoal do not warn about this.
• Activated charcoal can detoxify foods that haven’t yet left your stomach. If you’re taking it to reduce the effects of alcohol or a fatty meal you had the night before, it doesn’t make sense.
• Activated charcoal slows down your bowel movements and is known to cause nausea and constipation.

Bloating

A study conducted several decades ago found that activated charcoal reduces bloating. If you eat gas-producing foods and then take activated charcoal, it reduces bloating.

However, more recent studies have uncovered additional information. It turns out that activated charcoal can actually reduce bloating under certain circumstances. However, for some people, its use is undesirable because activated charcoal also reduces the effectiveness of other medications.

There are more effective ways to combat bloating. That is why you should not take any information as an unshakable truth. Activated charcoal is not as useful as they say.