Conchita's appearance in the 2014 Eurovision song contest - one of the strangest and most exciting song and dance competitions in the world, in case you didn't know - attracted lashings of controversy before she even took the stage. It was seen as a tipping point for Europe, with much of Eastern Europe and orthodox Christian states outraged at her selection, calling it "spiritual decay" and "perversion".
On the other hand, Western and Central Europe cheered her on, and Conchita emerged from the finals a glittering triumph. Her song "Rise Like A Phoenix" marked her as one of the biggest LGBT icons of all time (and ironically the most downloaded song in Russia that year), and was the beginning of a tour and media frenzy that's still going to this day. Her continued success inspires us all in many ways we can't explain.
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.