Foodies, beauty gurus and lifestyle bloggers have jumped on the charcoal trend, and it’s been blowing up our Instagram feeds. After all, black is always the color on trend and nothing is more shocking than a pitch black latte. But what exactly is activated charcoal?
Well, activated charcoal isn’t new. In fact, it’s been used in the medical field for years to help with detoxing and food poisoning. But suddenly it seems to be popping up everywhere. It’s in ice cream, toothpaste, face masks and more. So, why exactly is it so popular?
Activated charcoal is detoxifying.
Because of the process used to make activated charcoal, certain molecules break down and the surface area increases. This means when you ingest it, the charcoal can actually improve gut health.
This is what makes charcoal sought after in the medical field (and why it might be effective for you if your #TacoTuesday takes a turn for the worse). This also makes charcoal useful in products like face masks and toothpaste. Since charcoal naturally absorbs outside ingredients so well, it can absorb toxins in your face and on your teeth — resulting in clearer skin and whiter teeth for many people.
Activated charcoal is tasteless.
Amazingly activated charcoal really tastes like nothing. The powder has a slightly grainy texture and might taste ashy to some, but most of that flavor is dulled with anything added, even water. This makes it popular in food – think black ice cream or black lemonade!
The only other popular alternative in the culinary world is squid ink, and honestly, gross. Squid ink might be fine when cooked through, but in ice cream? Pass.
But caution yourself, there’s been some debate if you should be eating charcoal infused foods. In fact, the Health Department in New York banned it entirely. However, the general consensus seems to say everything is fine in moderation, so just make sure your food is charcoal-safe before consumption.
Activated charcoal looks cool.
This one is the most obvious for many people that have hopped on the charcoal ice cream or matte black latte train. Black just looks cool. People make the comparison whenever a new color trend drops. “Oh! Ultraviolet is the new black.” But nothing ever really is the new black, is it?
Charcoal is the not-so-spooky trend we should all be hopping on. Just remember to eat it in moderation and check labels twice.
For all the collegiate women taking medication, be careful and check with your physician before trying charcoal products. Charcoal can potentially be *too* detoxifying and absorb the medicine before it has a chance to work. It shouldn’t create a negative interaction, but it may render the medicine ineffective, so be sure to check with your healthcare provider before you bite in.