Charcoal: The Newest Superfood?

Fan of green juices? If detoxing trends are to be believed, you’ll be knocking back the black stuff very soon. Nope, not Guinness, we’re talking charcoal.  The activated kind, not to be confused with the non-activated stuff, which is extremely dangerous.

So what’s the deal? Charcoal binds to toxins, and health fiends are using it for improved intestinal wellbeing, and to remove heavy metals. Across the pond, every juice bar worth its cold-pressed credentials is offering the game-changing blend, usually spiked with lemon to trick us into turning a blind tongue to the powdery-mouth feel. Thankfully, there’s no taste to offset, as charcoal has zero flavour.

And it’s not just bevvies that are getting the inky treatment. You might have noticed charcoal tablets in your local health shop, or the mysterious allure of black toothpaste.

It binds to everything in its path – stains, tartar, bacteria, viruses.

While an occasional black juice is one thing, brushing with the stuff or popping a handful of charcoal pills a day is a whole other story.

As one dentist neatly put it, “It binds to everything in its path – stains, tartar, bacteria, viruses (and maybe even your tonsils). As it takes tartar off the teeth, your teeth will get whiter, which is a positive, of course, but it may also bind to medications the body needs to absorb and even bacteria that you need for digestion. And additionally, it just might not work.”

Any takers? We’re probs going to sit this one out…

• Charcoal
• fitness
• health
• Superfood