Why is there a pier jutting out from the land over this deserted track in the mountainous terrain? Why is there a fish-cleaning station in the distance, rusting away and unused? The answer is simple and terrifying; this used to be a lake. These were once the shores of Lake Mead, which sits between Arizona and Nevada in the USA.
A combination of rising temperatures and climate change, coupled with overuse of the Colorado River, have led to the Lake almost completely disappearing, along with the fishing industry that relied upon it and the fish that lived in it. A whole way of life in this part of the world has gone forever. With no way of saving the lake and no means of reversing the trend, the dwindling levels of water that still remain here will be gone by the end of 2021. Unless we change our ways, it will be one of many.
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.