Activated Charcoal (Coconut Shell)

Activated Charcoal (Coconut Shell) is not a nutritional ingredient and provides zero caloric value, containing 0g protein, 0g fat, 0g digestible carbohydrates, and 0g bioavailable fiber. It is composed almost entirely of pure carbon (approximately 87-97% elemental carbon by mass) arranged in a highly porous microstructure. Key physical-chemical properties relevant to its function include: surface area of approximately 900-1,200 m²/g (coconut shell-derived tends toward the higher end compared to wood or coal-based sources), pore volume of approximately 0.5-0.8 mL/g, and average micropore diameter of 1-2 nanometers. It contains negligible trace minerals inherited from the coconut shell precursor material, including trace amounts of silica, calcium, potassium, and magnesium, all well below nutritionally meaningful concentrations (<0.5% ash content in pharmaceutical-grade preparations). It contains no vitamins, no amino acids, no fatty acids, and no digestible macronutrients. Bioavailability note: Activated charcoal is entirely non-absorbable and non-digestible; it passes through the gastrointestinal tract intact. Its mechanism is purely adsorptive (not absorptive), binding toxins, gases, and certain compounds to its vast porous surface via van der Waals forces, with an adsorption capacity of approximately 100-1,000 mg of adsorbate per gram of charcoal depending on the target molecule. Importantly, it can adsorb and reduce bioavailability of co-administered nutrients, medications, and vitamins.