The Science of Bioactive Carbon

In Episode 14 of The Healing Terrain, Dr. Drew Kidder sits down with CellCore Biosciences co-founder Dr. Todd Watts to explore the science behind BioActive Carbon® Technology and the principles that shaped its development.

The conversation moves from the origins of fulvic and humic acids to the exchange of electrons and protons, mitochondrial energy production, and the pathways involved in detoxification. Throughout the episode, Watts returns to a central idea: supporting the body begins with understanding what its cells need to carry out their work.

At CellCore, energy and drainage are foundational parts of that conversation. This episode brings those principles together, explaining why Watts considers cellular function and elimination alongside the process of addressing toxic burden.

Begin With Fulvic and Humic Acids

Kidder opens by asking what bioactive carbon is and why fulvic and humic acids became such an important part of CellCore’s approach.

Watts describes these substances as originating from the breakdown of plant material over time, with microbial activity contributing to the organic matter found in soil. Their conversation connects those deposits with carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, then follows those elements into the chemistry of the human body.

For Watts, the next question was how to build on the properties of fulvic and humic acids. He explains that their functional groups and capacity to participate in electron and proton exchange drew his attention to the reactions that keep the body functioning.

Rather than stopping at the name of a nutrient or ingredient, he wanted to understand what it was doing at the molecular level. That focus became part of the thinking behind BioActive Carbon Technology.

Understand the Exchange Behind Antioxidant Activity

“It helps to move enzymatic reactions forward,” Watts says of the carbon technology.

He describes electrons, protons, and oxygen as central to the reactions discussed throughout the episode. Kidder builds on that explanation by asking what an antioxidant actually does and how electron exchange relates to free radicals.

Their discussion connects antioxidant activity with the chemistry behind those exchanges. Watts presents fulvic and humic acids as versatile materials that can donate or accept components involved in reactions, linking that versatility to his interest in cellular support.

Put Mitochondrial Energy at the Foundation

Watts’s interest in mitochondrial function also grew out of his own health journey. He recalls feeling fatigued and wanting to understand what was interfering with his ability to produce energy.

“The mitochondria produce ATP,” he explains.

ATP, or adenosine triphosphate, is central to their discussion of cellular energy. Watts connects mitochondrial function with the energy needed for enzymatic reactions and the work carried out by organs and tissues.

He describes oxidative stress and toxic burden as factors he considers when looking at mitochondrial function. Within that framework, he discusses fulvic and humic acids in relation to antioxidant activity, binding, and support for the conditions cells need to function.

Kidder brings the discussion back to the liver: supporting its work also means paying attention to the cells and mitochondria within it. The episode’s emphasis is on approaching energy production as a foundation for the processes that follow.

Follow the Electron Transport Chain

The conversation becomes more specific when Kidder asks about CoQ10 and the mitochondrial electron transport chain.

Watts describes CoQ10 as an electron carrier between complexes I and II and complex III. He also discusses the movement of protons across the inner mitochondrial membrane and the gradient involved in ATP production, with oxygen serving as the final electron acceptor.

For Watts, this is another way to connect the chemistry of electron exchange with cellular energy. He explains his interest in fulvic and humic acids through that same lens, discussing how he sees their electron-transfer and binding properties fitting into the broader picture of mitochondrial support.

Kidder links the explanation to the Krebs cycle and the continual exchange involved in energy metabolism. Together, they bring the discussion back to understanding the reactions behind the body’s function.

Distinguish Detoxification From Drainage

When the conversation turns to detoxification, Watts immediately brings up elimination. He emphasizes regular bowel movements and bile flow as parts of the process that deserve attention.

Detoxification and drainage are closely connected in CellCore’s approach. In the episode, detoxification refers to the processing of substances, while drainage focuses on the pathways through which the body moves waste out.

Watts explains why he does not look at neutralizing or binding a substance in isolation. He also wants to understand how it will be transported and eliminated.

Kidder summarizes the shared emphasis: “We want to facilitate the natural detox process.”

That distinction helps explain the episode’s focus on giving the body the support it needs while keeping its exit pathways in the conversation.

Include the Transport Step in Liver Detoxification

Kidder and Watts discuss liver detoxification as a sequence that includes transformation, conjugation, and transport.

Phase I: Kidder describes reactions involving cytochrome P450 enzymes, which begin the processing of many substances.

Phase II: He discusses conjugation pathways, including glucuronidation, sulfation, and amino acid conjugation, which further prepare substances for elimination.

Phase III: Watts emphasizes transport out of the liver, including movement through bile into the small intestine.

Watts places particular attention on bile flow because processing a substance is only part of the pathway. Their discussion brings cellular energy and drainage together: the body needs energy for its work and functioning transport pathways to carry that work forward.

Consider the Exposures Around Us

Kidder also asks why detoxification support has become such a central part of the conversation.

Watts points to the range of exposures people encounter through food, water, air, clothing, and household furnishings. He discusses pesticides, herbicides, and other chemicals as part of the environmental picture he considers.

The conversation connects that picture with the episode’s broader emphasis on foundational support. Watts describes looking at toxic burden alongside the reactions, energy production, and elimination pathways involved in the body’s response.

By the close of the episode, the discussion has come full circle: understanding bioactive carbon means looking at its chemistry within the larger conversation about how cells function and how the body processes and removes waste.

Practical Takeaways From the Conversation

Watts and Kidder return to several connected themes:

• Understand the origins of fulvic and humic acids and the chemical properties discussed in the episode.
• Keep mitochondrial energy in the conversation when considering organ function and detoxification.
• Distinguish the processing of substances from their transport and elimination.
• Include bowel habits and bile flow when discussing drainage.
• Consider everyday environmental exposures as part of the broader health picture.

The science of bioactive carbon connects with the foundation of CellCore’s approach: understanding cellular energy, supporting the body’s processes, and keeping drainage central to the conversation.

Listen to the Full Episode

Listen to Episode 14 of The Healing Terrain with Dr. Todd Watts and Dr. Drew Kidder for the full conversation on bioactive carbon, mitochondrial function, and drainage. Find the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.

Disclaimer

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

This content is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.