Ever wanted to hike on a precariously high trail made up of a single plank of wood? No, neither have we. But for some reason, the tourists can't get enough of it. All you have to do is look at photos of Mount Huashan's famous hike to give yourself a case of vertigo. This cliffside trail is perched 7,087 feet in the air and leads to a temple and tea house. Though most of us would prefer more than a cup of tea at the end of such a feat, there are plenty of people who attempt it every year.
Traditionally, the trail was only frequented by monks and nuns, as a way to show their dedication to their faith - it's the only way to reach this extremely out of the way temple. But tourists have since caught on to the trail's existence and the death toll doesn't seem to bother anyone. No official statistics are available, but around 100 people fall to their death every year.
Over the years, weve seen so many food trends come and go, such as ramen burgers, matcha, and spiked ice-cream. Nowadays, were seeing another trend making waves in the food industry. How many times today have you seen an Instagram photo of a scoop of black ice cream, or a cup of black yogurt, or hamburgers with black buns? Indeed, the charcoal trend has taken the world by storm.
So, what gives your latte that deep black shade? Activated charcoal, or coconut ash, is produced by heating coconut shells to insanely high temperatures until theyre burnt to a crisp. The ashes are then increased in size by steaming at high temperatures. Through this process, the ashes become a strong detoxifier, mostly because they become extra absorbent. This product may be purchased in pill form, and promises to alleviate hangovers, minimize the effects of food poisoning, and fight the visible signs of aging.
Activated charcoal is said to boost ones energy as a result of decreasing toxins in the body. However, no evidence proves that detoxifying can lead to increased energy. Also, while it can help cure a hangover, it doesnt necessarily remove alcohol from your blood. It is also said to aid in debloating your stomach because it cleanses your colon but again, this all anecdotal and isnt supported by scientific evidence as of yet. All we can say for sure is that it is a proven detoxifier.