{"product_id":"io-genix-charbon-actif","title":"IO Genix Activated Charcoal - Digestion and Intestinal Comfort","description":"\u003ch2\u003eWhat is IO Genix Charbon Actif?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIO Genix Charbon Actif is a soft-capsule supplement combining three ingredients: \u003cstrong\u003eactivated plant charcoal, aniseed essential oil and peppermint essential oil\u003c\/strong\u003e. The daily dose of four capsules supplies 500 mg of activated charcoal, 280 mg of aniseed essential oil and 280 mg of peppermint essential oil.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eActivated charcoal is not barbecue charcoal. It is a plant-based charcoal heat-treated at high temperature to develop an extreme porosity: a few grams develop an internal surface area measured in hundreds of square metres. It is that porosity which allows it to bind molecules to its surface, a physical phenomenon known as adsorption.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe two essential oils, for their part, are traditional ingredients of the digestive sphere. Aniseed (\u003cem\u003ePimpinella anisum\u003c\/em\u003e) and peppermint (\u003cem\u003eMentha piperita\u003c\/em\u003e) are present here at a proper dose, 280 mg each, which is far from always the case with this type of formula. The rest of the Spanish range can be found in our \u003ca href=\"\/en\/collections\/gammes-io-genix\"\u003eIO Genix\u003c\/a\u003e section.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat does a dose of Charbon Actif contain?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eValues\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePer 4 capsules (daily dose)\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003e% NRV\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEnergy\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e33 kJ \/ 8 kcal\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e—\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFat\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1.2 g\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e—\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCarbohydrate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e0 g\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e—\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDietary fibre\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e0 g\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e—\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eProtein\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e0 g\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e—\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalt\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eless than 0.01 g\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e—\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eActivated charcoal\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e500 mg\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot established\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAniseed essential oil\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e280 mg\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot established\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePeppermint essential oil\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e280 mg\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot established\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIt needs to be said plainly what these 500 mg allow and what they do not.\u003c\/strong\u003e Activated charcoal is one of the few ingredients in this category to have an authorised claim in Europe, covering the reduction of excessive flatulence after eating. But that claim comes with a precise dosage condition, expressed in grams: it assumes 1 g taken before the meal and 1 g taken shortly afterwards. \u003cstrong\u003eWith 500 mg spread across the whole day, this product sits well below that threshold\u003c\/strong\u003e, and we will therefore not repeat that claim in connection with it. This is a piece of information you will find nowhere else on this type of product page, and it changes how you choose.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe dose of the two essential oils, on the other hand, is markedly more generous than what you usually come across. 280 mg each is a genuine amount, and it is probably what gives the product its character. No health claim is authorised in Europe for aniseed or for peppermint: so we describe what the formula contains, without attributing any effect to it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA final word on the 1.2 g of fat per dose: it comes from the sunflower oil that acts as a carrier in the soft capsules, and not from any intended nutritional contribution. At 8 kcal for the daily dose, this product weighs on no one's intake.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch4\u003eIngredients list\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBulking agent (refined sunflower oil), coating agent (gelatine, humectant: glycerine), activated charcoal, aniseed essential oil (\u003cem\u003ePimpinella anisum\u003c\/em\u003e L.), peppermint essential oil (\u003cem\u003eMentha piperita\u003c\/em\u003e L.), emulsifier (\u003cstrong\u003eSOYA\u003c\/strong\u003e lecithin), stabiliser (partially hydrogenated soya fat), thickeners (colloidal silica, beeswax, hydrogenated soya fat).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eContains SOYA. May contain traces of GLUTEN, MILK, EGGS and FISH.\u003c\/strong\u003e The capsules are made from bovine gelatine.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eHow do you take Charbon Actif?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDose:\u003c\/strong\u003e 2 capsules per serving. \u003cstrong\u003eLiquid:\u003c\/strong\u003e at least 250 ml of water. \u003cstrong\u003eTiming:\u003c\/strong\u003e before a main meal, or at the moment of discomfort. \u003cstrong\u003eFrequency:\u003c\/strong\u003e two servings a day, without exceeding 4 capsules. \u003cstrong\u003eDuration:\u003c\/strong\u003e a two to four week course.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA clarification is needed, because the manufacturer's documentation contradicts itself on this point and we would rather flag it than copy out both instructions.\u003c\/strong\u003e On one hand it states two capsules before each main meal, on the other a daily dose not to be exceeded of four capsules. Both cannot be true at once if you eat three meals. We are keeping the lower limit, which is also the one in the nutrition declaration: four capsules a day at most, that is two servings. Spread them across the two meals that give you the most trouble.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe glass of water is not decorative.\u003c\/strong\u003e Activated charcoal needs a sufficient volume of liquid to move properly through the digestive tract, and 250 ml is a minimum, not a suggestion. Taking it with three mouthfuls of water is the surest way to create further discomfort for yourself.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSwallow the capsules whole, without crunching them: they are soft capsules and their contents are not meant to be chewed. A two to four week course gives you an honest basis for judging, and the product is then taken again in spells as needed rather than continuously all year round.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe most important instruction on this page: leave at least two hours between taking activated charcoal and taking any medicine or any other supplement.\u003c\/strong\u003e We come back to it just below.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWho is Charbon Actif for, and who is it not for?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is aimed at an adult who gets bloating after meals and is looking for a comfort solution, either occasionally or over a few weeks. It can have its place before a heavy or unusual meal, rather than as routine use.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe central point to watch is the interaction with medicines.\u003c\/strong\u003e Activated charcoal binds molecules by adsorption, and it does not tell the difference between an intestinal gas and an active substance: it can reduce the absorption of a medicine taken at the same time. That applies to all treatments, including oral contraception. The manufacturer requires a minimum gap of two hours, and that instruction must be followed to the letter. If you are on long-term medication, speak to your doctor or your pharmacist before starting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe manufacturer \u003cstrong\u003edoes not recommend it for children under 12\u003c\/strong\u003e and asks \u003cstrong\u003epregnant and breastfeeding women\u003c\/strong\u003e to seek the advice of a healthcare professional. The product \u003cstrong\u003econtains soya\u003c\/strong\u003e and the capsules are made from gelatine: \u003cstrong\u003eit is therefore suitable neither for people allergic to soya, nor for vegetarians, nor for vegans.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne practical remark that the manufacturer mentions and that always comes as a surprise: \u003cstrong\u003estools turn black during the course.\u003c\/strong\u003e This is normal, harmless, and it disappears once you stop. Better to know beforehand than to start worrying on day three.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat not to expect from it: this is not a treatment, it is not a detox product — a term that means nothing in regulatory terms — and it is not a solution to persistent digestive problems. Entrenched bloating, pain or a lastingly disturbed transit are a matter for a doctor, not for a capsule.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eActivated charcoal, enzymes or probiotics, which should you choose?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThree families of product compete for the same shelf, and they do not work in remotely the same way.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eActivated charcoal\u003c\/strong\u003e acts physically, there and then, on whatever is in the digestive tract at the moment you take it. It is an occasional comfort product, to be taken at the moment of the problem. It changes nothing over time, and it is not designed to.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/en\/collections\/enzymes-digestives\"\u003eDigestive enzymes\u003c\/a\u003e supply molecules that help break down certain nutrients. It is the more logical choice if your discomfort is linked to a particular meal or an identified food — a very rich meal, a large portion of pulses, an excess of dairy products.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/en\/collections\/probiotique\"\u003eProbiotics\u003c\/a\u003e work on a different timescale: they are a long-term matter, over several weeks, and they target the balance of the microbiota rather than an immediate symptom. They are of no use for settling bloating within the hour.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne particular case is worth flagging, because we come across it often: if your bloating appears mainly after a protein shake, none of the three will address the cause. It is most often the lactose in a concentrate whey, and switching to a \u003ca href=\"\/en\/collections\/whey-isolate-1\"\u003ewhey isolate\u003c\/a\u003e or a \u003ca href=\"\/en\/collections\/clear-whey-1\"\u003eclear whey\u003c\/a\u003e is a more direct and less expensive answer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently asked questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow many capsules a day at most?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFour, and that is the limit set by the manufacturer's nutrition declaration. Take them as two servings of two capsules, before the meals that trouble you most. The documentation also mentions two capsules before each main meal, but that pattern would exceed the daily dose if you eat three meals.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy do you have to wait two hours before a medicine?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBecause activated charcoal binds molecules by adsorption without distinguishing what they are. It can therefore reduce the absorption of a medicine taken at the same time, including oral contraception. The two-hour gap is a minimum, to be observed in both directions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDo stools turn black?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, in fact invariably, and it is harmless. The colour comes from the charcoal itself, which is not absorbed and ends up in the stools in its entirety. Everything returns to normal once the course is over.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAre these capsules suitable for vegetarians?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo. The soft capsules are made from gelatine, which is of animal origin. The product also contains soya in several forms, which likewise rules it out for people allergic to that allergen.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs 500 mg enough against bloating?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is a modest dose against the threshold adopted at European level for this type of effect, which is counted in grams and not in milligrams. The product draws its character more from its two essential oils, dosed at 280 mg each. We would rather say so than let you believe in a dose it does not have.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCan you take it every day all year round?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe manufacturer positions the product as a two to four week course, to be taken again as the periods require. Permanent use serves no purpose and complicates managing the two-hour gap with everything else you take. In spells, it is more logical and easier to stick to.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCan it be combined with other supplements?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, provided you leave at least two hours between them — a supplement is a molecule like any other from the point of view of activated charcoal. In practice, take your \u003ca href=\"\/en\/collections\/multivitamines\"\u003emultivitamin\u003c\/a\u003e or your \u003ca href=\"\/en\/collections\/magnesium\"\u003emagnesium\u003c\/a\u003e at another time of day.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere can you buy IO Genix Charbon Actif?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe bottle can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, this is a product we always start with one simple question about: “are you on any medication?”. The answer does not rule it out, but it decides how the servings have to be organised across the day. The rest of the section can be browsed in our \u003ca href=\"\/en\/collections\/nutrition-sportive\"\u003esports nutrition\u003c\/a\u003e range.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"IO.GENIX","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51160708710727,"sku":"8435569310727","price":14.9,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0881\/9467\/9111\/files\/IO-Genix-Charbon-Actif-Digestion-Confort-Intestinal-carre.png?v=1788600404","url":"https:\/\/kissnutrition.fr\/en\/products\/io-genix-charbon-actif","provider":"KISS NUTRITION","version":"1.0","type":"link"}