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Summary
On episode 282 of 40+ Fitness, Coach Allan sits down with Britt Brandon, a certified personal trainer and certified fitness nutrition specialist, health coach, mother of three, and author of seven books, including Activated Charcoal for Health.
Britt explains that activated charcoal, a granulated powder made from sources like coconut shell, is not the same thing as the briquettes people cook with. Its absorptive properties let it bind to and flush chemicals and toxins from the body, which is the mechanism behind everything from emergency poisoning treatment to everyday wellness use.
The conversation runs through around a dozen of the roughly 100 uses in her book, spanning heart health, cholesterol, cognitive function, teeth whitening, varicose veins, and hair growth, along with the one real precaution: timing it around medications.
Links
- https://www.ultimatefitmom.com
Key Takeaways
- Activated charcoal is not cooking charcoal. It’s a granulated powder, available as pills, capsules, powder, or mixed into products like deodorant, face wash, or mouthwash, sourced from various organic materials (coconut is a common one) and manufactured, not made at home.
- Its core mechanism is binding and flushing. Because it absorbs and carries off anything foreign in the body, it’s used for drug overdoses and alcohol intoxication. The same binding effect means it will also flush medications and supplements if taken too close together.
- Time it 2 to 4 hours away from medication or supplements. That window prevents charcoal from reducing the effectiveness of a prescription like a cholesterol drug or an iron supplement. It does not strip nutrients from whole foods eaten around the same time.
- It’s positioned as supportive for heart health, not curative. Britt’s claim is that removing toxins helps the kidneys, liver, and digestive system run more efficiently, which she links to fewer fatty deposits in the arteries, more balanced hormones, and reduced cravings for fatty and sugary foods.
- Regular use is claimed to shift the HDL to LDL balance. Paired with a clean diet and exercise, Britt says charcoal helps clear triglycerides and fat deposits that build up from diet or a sedentary lifestyle, but she’s clear it only works layered on top of other healthy habits, not as a replacement for them.
- The first 5 to 7 days can bring fatigue as toxins clear. Britt cites unspecified peer-reviewed studies showing that people commonly feel tired when they first start taking activated charcoal, which she attributes to the body offloading long-accumulated caffeine, sugar, and medication residue before cognitive clarity improves.
- Teeth whitening works by removal, not bleaching. Used in mouthwash or toothpaste, it strips stain deposits and bacteria from teeth while, according to Britt, also helping preserve enamel and calcium, making it a “safe” form of whitening rather than a chemical bleach.
- Varicose veins are attributed to a buildup of dead blood cells. Britt (who developed ankle varicose veins after three pregnancies) says activated charcoal, used internally or topically, helps clear that buildup as it moves through the bloodstream.
- Hair loss has both genetic and environmental drivers. Britt acknowledges the genetic component (family hair loss patterns) but says removing environmental toxins, ingested or applied topically, can support the body’s natural capacity for hair and skin cell regeneration.
“I kind of equate it to if you were trying to paint a three-story house, it’s great that you have a paintbrush, but if you don’t have the scaffolding, the ladder, the paint, the rest of it.”
Britt Brandon