Overthe last several years, Japanese and Korean beauty services have moved over -组卷网

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Over the last several years, Japanese and Korean beauty services have moved over to the North American market, which may partly explain why we’re now seeing activated charcoal (活性炭) in so many products - it has long been used in those countries as a cleaning ingredient (原料). But there’s another reason for its recent popularity: marketers know we are suckers for anything novel. “Activated charcoal is highly popular on the Internet,”says dietitian Abby Langer. The charcoal in activated charcoal is created by burning carbon-rich materials such as wood and bamboo, turning them into a concentrated black material. Then the charcoal is”activated”by steaming it at high temperatures, which opens up its carbon structure and makes it full of very small holes that can join together dirt, oil, and bacteria on its surface.

However, does it really improve beauty and other products? Here’s the thing: despite some stories of clear skin from nutritionists, personal trainers and movie stars, there is no clinical evidence for the effectiveness of activated charcoal as a beauty quality. Likewise, there is no good evidence showing that using charcoal products for health in the mouth will make your breath fresher or teeth whiter. In a CBC story last year, the Canadian Dental Association wouldn’t recommend using charcoal products because they have no proven health benefits, and they may even damage your enamel(the hard white outer layer of your teeth).

Activated charcoal also enjoys a high status in the food industry, being used by restaurants and food brands to turn a long list of food and drinks a deep black color. So before you shell out extra cash for a lemonade with activated charcoal, remember that you’re paying for the look - there’s no scientific evidence for the”detox(排毒)” action it promises.

There are some proven uses for this stuff, though. In the emergency room. doctors sometimes feed some activated charcoal to patients who have been poisoned. If it’s done quickly - ideally within minutes but up to an hour after being poisoned, while the poisonous substance is still in the stomach - it prevents the body from absorbing it. So yes, activated charcoal might save your life. However, everyday users should know that it doesn’t combine with alcohol, so it won’t magical erase the effects of late-night drinking. Also, be aware that it doesn’t tell the difference between the bad and the good: it will mix with blood pressure medication pills and get them through your system, too.

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