Activated charcoal is used to help reduce excessive flatulenceintestinal gas after eatingActivated charcoal has been created solely for human use Itrsquos important to realise thatnbspactivated charcoalnbspisnbspnot the same as charcoal used in your barbecuenbspBarbecue charcoal is loaded with toxins and chemicals and should never be consumed Activated charcoal is a manufactured product - you cannot find it naturally in foodsHow does it workActivated charcoal is verynbspmicro-porous it is produced to have a very fine particle size Just 1000mg 1g has a surface area anywhere between 500m2 and 1000m2 The small pores increase thenbspsurface areanbspavailable fornbspadsorption this is different fromnbspabsorptionnbsp Adsorption is a process in which atoms and molecules attach themselves onto a solid or liquid surfacenbspIn other words the toxic substance attaches to the surface of the charcoalnbsp Absorption occurs when a substance passes into or through a substance like water passing into a spongeIn the case of excess intestinal gas the charcoal works by adsorbing gas in the digestive systemnbspBecause charcoal is not digested it stays inside the gastrointestinal systemnbspand the toxins it has adsorbed are then eliminated when you next have a bowel movementIn addition to adsorption of toxins activated charcoal may also adsorb food nutrientsnbspvitamins and minerals therefore you should avoid consuming this in excess every day Because the charcoal is not absorbed by the body there is no evidence to suggest that activated charcoal should not be used during pregnancy or breast feedingnbspCharcoal capsules may not be suitable for you if you are currently taking other medication This is because the charcoal might adsorb the medication and make it less effective