GNC isn't the only pharmaceutical company to suffer from recent economic woes; the once-dependable Fred's Pharmacy has been looking a little ill themselves. For seventy years Fred's has served successive generations of Americans, but unless dramatic steps are taken soon, the company will not be there for the generation who comes next.
By May 2018, Fred's was experiencing a steady and constant downturn in sales, having dropped off 4.3% in the prior twelve months, with a net loss to the company of $139m. Instead of shrinking away, Fred's tried to expand by adding another 400 stores to its empire but found itself squeezed out by Walgreens. With nowhere left to turn but its own assets, Fred's sold off specialty pharmacy CVS for $40m, and when that didn't achieve the desired effect, the entire company was put up for sale.
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.