Continuing our upward trajectory in the middle of the alphabet, living in Massachusetts will probably cost you a tiny bit more than living in Maryland. This is really all about geography; the northeast of the country is the most expensive area to live in, and you can't get much more northeasterly than Massachusetts. You also better think about finding a partner to share your life with before you move here - the average income for one person in the state is below the living wage we've listed here.
Massachusetts is, of course, where the Mayflower landed, and so you could make a strong argument that it's also where the story of modern America began. It's also where the fight for independence began; the Boston tea party happened here, as did the first ever public Thanksgiving celebration. No wonder they call it the 'State of Firsts.'
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.