Recently, funky food trends have been all the rage.
From avocado toast, to rainbow bagels, to edible cookie dough, to anything unicorn-themed — people have absolutely loved all of the quirky new food trends.
Many of the most popular foods right now have activated charcoal in them. And for good reason — they're stunning. These inky black foods are as dark as night, and are perfect for photographing.
Plus, activated charcoal doesn't taste like anything, which makes it the perfect food addition.
Today, you can find activated charcoal in practically every type of food: bagels, lemonade, pizza crusts, ice cream, and even lattes.
These jet-black dishes have piqued everyone's interest, but are they actually safe to eat? The short answer is yes — the long answer is a little more complicated.
Keep reading to find out why activated charcoal may not be a good idea for you to eat — and why it could actually make you get unintentionally pregnant.
[H/T: Romper]
Thumbnail Photo: Wikimedia Commons / Wikimedia Commons
If you like looking at food and recipes online, you've probably seen a wacky trend around the internet recently: pitch black foods.
These super dark foods are stunning, but they actually have potential health consequences everyone should know about.
For a long time, activated charcoal was primarily used by hospitals, reports Eater.
Activated charcoal is very absorbent, and doctors use it to absorb poisons and drug overdoses from the body.
You may have heard stories about doctors giving charcoal pills to children who accidentally ate something dangerous.
Because of its detoxifying properties, people have also used activated charcoal as a supplement for years, claiming it can stop the effects of food poisoning, prevent hangovers, and more.
But the interesting new food trend has some people worried — is it really safe to consume?
Because of its absorbing properties, charcoal may actually have some negative effects on people's health.
Activated charcoal, which people ingest to counteract the effects of drug overdoses, absorbs everything in its path — whether it's toxic or not.
What this means is that it could absorb medication you're taking intentionally and make it less effective.
While many medications aren't impacted, a few vital ones are, including some vasodilators and painkillers.
It also may make birth control pills ineffective, leading to unintentional pregnancies.
According to information from drugs.com, activated charcoal can have moderate effects on over 240 medications, including painkillers (like ibuprofen and acetaminophen), vitamins, and asthma medications (like albuterol).
Activated charcoal can absorb medication for hours after being consumed, and it can also absorb essential nutrients from the body.
So, is it safe to eat? In small quantities, yes — but you should know about the drug interactions before consuming it, especially if you're on hormonal birth control.
That said, it's not a great idea to make a habit out of eating activated charcoal foods. Instead, treat it as a splurge item.
Have you ever eaten a food with activated charcoal in it?
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