4. Drinking charcoal to “detox”
Remember all those endless benefits you’ve heard about activated charcoal supplements? Well….none of those are based on evidence, says registered dietitian Tracy Lockwood Beckerman, MS.
“It started a few years ago when Kim Kardashian started drinking activated charcoal lemonade. Then it spiraled into pills and supplements in more concentrated forms, which are very dangerous,” she says.
“A more concentrated form of charcoal, such as in a pill, causes major [gastrointestinal] disturbances and may cause you to have bouts of diarrhea, cramping and massive bloating. It also disrupts the normal absorptive process in your gut, which can leave you unable to absorb the vitamins and minerals from food or unable to obtain benefits from any medications you may be taking,” she added.
