It’s 2017 (practically 2018) & charcoal has gone from being something you used to braai* with or a cure to poisoning to something we now drink, bathe in, brush our teeth with & clean our water with. It’s not just any type of charcoal; it’s activated charcoal that’s taken over the wellness scene. Activated charcoal is also known as activated carbon & is made from natural sources like coconut shells, bamboo & oak. It’s made by burning wood or coconut shells at high temperatures to remove all oxygen & activating it with steam-like gases. This process causes the charcoal to develop lots of internal spaces or “pores.” These pores help activated charcoal capture, bind & remove heavy metals, chemicals, gasses & poisons. It then works through a process called adsorption (not to be confused by absorption). This means that it doesn’t absorb the chemicals but rather binds them to the porous surface of the activated charcoal like a magnet. The use of activated charcoal for medicinal purposes dates back to the 1800’s; & doctors still use it to treat food, drug & alcohol poising. In the past year, activated charcoal has become a popular ingredient in both food & beauty products. The biggest problem with consuming foods with activated charcoal is that it doesn’t discriminate between the good nutrients & bad chemicals which means that it can interfere with nutrient absorption & tax your system. It’s something to be used occasionally & not long-term. If you’re on medication, you need to be incredibly careful with consuming activated charcoal as it can inactivate that medication – & this includes birth control. It’s recommended not to consume activated charcoal within 2 hours of taking medicine. Activated charcoal in beauty products is a lot safer, & its ability to bind impurities & unwanted toxins can lead to your best skin; hair & teeth.
The Ultimate Guide to Activated Charcoal
