Activated charcoal
Activated charcoal is carbon from sources such as wood or coconut shells, treated at high heat to give it a very porous surface that binds other substances.
A narrow claim for gas after meals
The German consumer organization describes an authorized EU claim for reducing excessive flatulence after eating. Its conditions specify 1 g at least 30 minutes before a meal and 1 g shortly afterward. That specific claim is not evidence for a general detox program or every cause of abdominal discomfort. 1
Why binding does not mean selective cleansing
Charcoal’s binding is nonspecific: it can capture useful substances and medicines as well as unwanted material in the gut. The consumer organization finds no scientific basis for broad supplement detox claims. A medical use after a particular poisoning should not be generalized to routine cleansing. 1 2
Effects by health goal
Open an effect to see the studies behind its rating. Bars show the size of the effect; the letter grades the evidence.
Gut Health3 effects
No study is linked to this rating.
No study is linked to this rating.
No study is linked to this rating.
Longevity1 effect
No study is linked to this rating.
Immune Support1 effect
No study is linked to this rating.
Sources
- Detox: überflüssig oder doch gesünder durch Entgiftung? Verbraucherzentrale
- Activated charcoal: An effective treatment for poisonings National Capital Poison Center