Be wary of activated charcoal for health, beauty

Health trends come and go. One of the latest is activated charcoal for nutrition and teeth whitening. While charcoal is naturally thought of as providing heat for cooking or warmth, it also has — when heated at high temperatures — absorbent powers. Thus, hospitals use it to bind a variety of drugs in cases of overdose or accidental poisoning. Healthline.com explains: "Activated charcoal works by trapping toxins and chemicals in the gut, preventing their absorption. The ...... read full story