What Is Activated Charcoal, and Is It Really Safe?

I offered my thoughts on Activated Charcoal in this piece for healthyish:

“Activated charcoal has long been used in hospitals to remove poison from the gastrointestinal tract before it’s absorbed into the body,” says Maya Feller Ms, RD, CDN. Charcoal has made the jump from poison control and ER rooms to wellness-minded cafes over the past few years, but that doesn’t mean you should be adding it to your supplement rotation. Activated charcoal may be advertised as a “detoxifier” for fixing hangovers and overindulging on french fries, but it doesn’t just target “bad” particles—it sucks up whatever it can get, including valuable nutrients and even medication. “There is some evidence that activated charcoal has been shown to bond to vitamins, which means it may remove them from your system,” says Feller. “I would caution against daily use especially for people that are taking prescription medications or supplements.”