Turmeric latte is so 2016! Here’s the latest bizarre detox trend — Charcoal latte, which is the hottest (not temperature-wise) drink gaining popularity abroad, especially the UK and online. The drink, made using hot milk and activated charcoal, is touted to house a host of health benefits from lowering cholesterol to reducing bloating to curing a hangover!
It has sparked a debate among nutrition experts on its alleged benefits. While some are singing its praises, others are calling its bluff. And before it hits Indian shores like any other fitness fad, we asked experts in the city on what you should know before you sip on that cuppa...
As a supplement
“The only benefit of activated charcoal as a supplement is to eliminate flatulence or getting rid of bloating. This addition of activated charcoal supplement is done alongside a proper nutrition plan. However, in this case, it’s used a supplement and not a medication. The base has to be corrected in conjunction with well-planned diet. An individual’s history needs to be taken into consideration., for example, one may be lactose intolerant or intolerant to casein and so on,” says nutritionist Karishma Chawla, EatRite 24x7, who on rare occasions has recommended activated charcoal supplement (capsules) to clients for a temporary period of one to two months, to rid them of bloating.
She says that all the factors need to be taken into consideration to know what might actually be causing the problem and so a proper nutrition plan is undertaken. “Medically, activated charcoal is used to treat overdose of medications, under medical supervision. As a nutritionist, I would give it to treat digestive issues,” she adds.
Detox claims
“There are many fad diets and trends catching up on the fast track. One of the latest being the charcoal latte, wherein few studies prove that activated charcoal helps with drug overdose or certain poisoning. Hence, a conclusion has been drawn that it has a detoxifying effect on our body. Other studies claim that activated charcoal may help in reducing cholesterol or to prevent a hangover or gas, but none of them is backed by a proven research,” says Pallavi Srivastava, fitness nutritionist and proprietor, Q-Slim Fitness Studio, adding that there are other healthier versions of latte which have soy milk, rice milk, almond milk or skimmed milk for a more healthier and tastier version.
The term ‘detoxing’ is somewhat misleading in the case of charcoal lattes, opines Chawla. She explains, “Medically speaking, activated charcoal is used for detoxification purposes, when it is administered under medical supervision to eliminate toxins from the body, resulting from an overdose of medications and/or drugs. Sipping charcoal lattes to enhance well-being isn’t detoxification in the true sense. If you want to detoxify your body, do it by eating right and changing your unhealthy lifestyle.”
Consultant nutritionist Pooja Makhija begins by questioning, “Who needs detoxing? Detoxing is for those who have abused their bodies by ingesting toxic substances like drugs or binged on alcohol, etc. If one doesn’t belong to this category, then why would one want to take a clinical substance to detoxify one’s body and from what? The human body is well-designed and equipped machine that eliminates toxins on its own through various processes.”
The bandwagon effect
Makhija laments how people do not want to correct their unhealthy lifestyle but are ready to consume a beverage like charcoal latte to compensate for it. She doesn’t deny that activated charcoal may give some result but opines it’s a just a temporary thing and might be harmful to the body in the long run. “The world has become vulnerable to short-term fixes and people have become so gullible that they’re willing to try anything and everything that’s considered trendy and cool. Nutrition experts would call it a fad, whereas those who succumb to the trend, call it cool. The makers and endorsers of this beverage are not asking people to change their lifestyle for the better, instead, they come up with these quick fixes.”
Does it really work?
Chawla raises multiple concerns regarding the efficacy of the charcoal latte in terms of delivering health benefits and detoxification, saying, “There’s not enough research to support that activated charcoal as a supplement helps in lowering cholesterol. There are better supplements to lower cholesterol. Why take activated charcoal for this purpose?” She adds that whether it’s for the elimination of toxins or to treat digestive issues, a specific dosage is given for a particular period of time. Randomly sipping charcoal lattes is not going to carry out either purpose. All in all, there’s not much research into the health benefits of this beverage.
Side-effects
There has been no proven research to back the authenticity of the results of activated charcoal, but when consumed for a longer time, it can cause side effects like diarrhoea, constipation, headache and other serious gastric disorders as well, says Srivastava, adding that she wouldn’t recommend it to her clients. Patients on different medications should consult their doctors to check if they can consume activated charcoal as it may interfere or give side-effects with certain drugs/medications. Nutritional studies claim it may reduce the absorption of certain nutrients.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Charcoal")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}