Here's another potent symbol of China's waste and pollution problem. A red river would be a beautiful sight and a curiosity if it occurred naturally, but it doesn't. The waters here aren't supposed to be that shade of red; a shade which is only growing more intense and vivid as time passes.
This is the Yangtze River; the largest river in the world to start and end within the same country. It would be a wonder of the world, but instead it's a scar on our collective conscience. Industrial pollution is to blame; both waste being pumped out into the water, and all the fuel and waste from the ships which sail upon it. Some see the total collapse of the ecosystem in this area is inevitable. We should heed that warning; when an ecosystem collapses, we're one step closer to a global extinction event.
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.