Born in Cedar Grove, New Jersey, Amanda Lepore (then Armand) knew she was different from the beginning. "Ever since I can first remember, I knew I was a girl," she recalls. "I couldn't understand why my parents were dressing me up in boys clothing. I thought they were insane." Luckily for her, her parents were more than understanding, and after being ostracized by her classmates they withdrew her from school and gave her access to female hormone therapy.
This was the beginning of a fabulous rise to the top as young Amanda. She had reassignment surgery at 19 years old, moved to New York, and become a prominent figure in the 90s nightlife scene there. As part of the loose group they called the Club Kids, a whirlwind of dance, drugs, unbelievable wardrobes, and fashion shoots followed.
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.