Have you ever heard of activated charcoal? Many people today have become obsessed with its alleged “detox” benefits, and are including it in everything from smoothies to pancakes. But is it really worth the hype, or is it as dark and sinister as it looks?
Let’s find out. But spoiler alert: you may want to think twice before making a lemonade out of it.

What Is It, Anyway?
Activated charcoal is a “medicinal” form of charcoal that can come from coconut shells, bamboo, wood, or coal. In order to become “activated”, manufacturers heat their source(s) with gas to create pores. The charcoal is then activated and capable of “trapping”. What it can trap can almost be anything- poisons, gas, drugs, etc. Which is the reason why so many people are using it today: to get rid of toxins by trapping them in charcoal.
But here are the reasons why is too good to be true.

#1) Many People Don’t Know What It Does
A widely spread misconception about activated charcoal is that it absorbs toxins. What it actually does is bind to them in the process of adsorption. Adsorption is when a substance like a gas or liquid sticks like together like a layer onto a solid surface; during adsorption, the substances do not penetrate or “sink” into the surface. During absorption, a substance enters or “mixes” with the surface.
Summary: During adsorption, something sticks to the outside, and during absorption, something goes inside. [1]
So think of activated charcoal like a magnetic binder attracting substances to it.

#2) It’s Used for EMERGENCIES
In emergency trauma centers, activated charcoal is used to effectively treat poisoning and drug overdose. [2] In those cases, activated charcoal can be a literal lifesaver. But the majority of people taking it today are not in any medical emergency.
(And by the way, the amount of activated charcoal that the ER uses far exceeds what you’ll normally get with a few pills: 20-50 grams for adults, which is about 100-200 times the amount from normal 250-milligram charcoal pills.) [3]

#3) MAY Help With Gas and Bloating, BUT-
Although a study from the American Journal of Gastroenterology supports the use of activated charcoal for gas and bloating in patients with IBS, other research shows inconsistent results. [4] [5] Furthermore, activated charcoal has also been shown to cause black stools, vomiting, constipation, and even gastrointestinal blockages. And fighting the activated charcoal induced constipation with diuretics can add more fuel to the fire, as well as electrolyte imbalances. [5]

#4) It Gets Rid of What You DON’T Want to Lose!
If you’re taking any supplements or medications, pay very close attention. Do not EVER consume them with activated charcoal! Remember, activated charcoal is a binder, so it will bind to your multivitamins, herbs, probiotics, anti-depressants, birth control, and other prescriptions. So you can get into a lot of trouble if you’re combining your medications with activated charcoal. Not only that, but activated charcoal can also block nutrient absorption from food, so if you thought adding it to a green smoothie was a good idea, then think again! [5]

Want to Detox? Salute Your Liver!
Truly, if you wanted to “detox” your body, then all you need is a liver. In the body, it’s the Employee of a Lifetime. If you want to support your liver, then instead of taking charcoal with processed foods, why not just ditch the charcoal and stick to whole foods? (And please don’t beat yourself up for having an occasional treat!) We’re always looking for the next best thing, and unfortunately, activated charcoal does not make the cut. Unless you’re in an emergency situation (like food poisoning), I advise you leave the use of activated charcoal to the professionals in the ER.

Sources:
[1] http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/adsorption.html
[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1676641/pdf/bmj00002-0006.pdf
[3] https://www.consumerreports.org/dietary-supplements/activated-charcoal-fad-not-a-magic-health-bullet/
[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3521259
[5] https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-269/activated-charcoal