Have you noticed photos of black-colored foods popping up in your social media feed? If so, you’re not alone! These dramatic looking food items are rising in popularity, spurring #gothfood versions of everything from ice cream to lemonade, pasta and hamburger buns.
For the past several years, chefs have used squid ink as a way to bring drama to their dishes, but this latest trend uses activated charcoal to achieve the photo-worthy darkness. And while some proponents tout activated charcoal as healthy, doctors warn against ingesting too much. In cases of poisoning, doctors use it because it binds to unwanted materials before they can be absorbed by the body. But it doesn’t just bind to bad stuff; it can also flush out things you need like nutrients or prescription medications. And those other claims — like detoxifying your body — aren’t supported by any reliable scientific evidence.
Bottom line: If you want to join the trend and add some social media eye candy to your feed, go ahead! Just be careful about how much — or how often — you turn to the dark side.
