Some food trends, as fresh and exciting as they may seem, are actually potentially pretty
dangerous.
Popularity doesn't mean the people pushing a particular fad have really done their research.
Here are some of the most surprisingly harmful food trends and techniques you've probably
seen show up in your social media feeds.
"Alright be real careful because it's hot!"
"ffffffff"
Raw water
As the unfiltered, untreated, unsterilized spring water micro-craze known as "raw water"
started trending in 2018, around 800 million people around the globe were being forced
to drink essentially that same stuff, and dying from it.
That's no exaggeration, as the World Health Organization estimates that contaminated drinking
water causes more than 500,000 deaths a year.
That's half a million people killed every year by being forced to drink the stuff that's
flying off the shelves of trendy, First World shops, bought by people who have access to
clean water.
So while commercial "raw water" may look clean, the CDC warns that it could contain animal
feces and be host to harmful bacteria, viruses, and parasites … a fact met with mockery
by many late-night TV hosts.
"I'm getting pine needle, neighbor's tennis ball, and just a hint of raccoon scat."
Activated charcoal
It makes your food look pretty cool, but activated charcoal is not totally benign.
It's true that charcoal is great at capturing and removing things like heavy metals and
other chemicals — that's why it's used to filter water and remove those same impurities
that could make you sick when you chug a bottle of raw water.
But there's a catch.
As nutritionist Fiona Tuck told Huffington Post Australia, not only do our bodies detox
themselves, but activated charcoal is only going to absorb what's in your digestive system.
That includes vitamins, nutrients, and prescription medications.
As gastroenterologist Patricia Raymond told Women's Health, it will also to lessen the
effectiveness of those medications, and yes, that includes birth control.
It's also been linked to causing all kinds of gastrointestinal distress, and if you happen
to breathe it in, it's entirely possible it's going to damage your lungs.
Adding cinnamon to everything
Love cinnamon?
You're not alone.
CNN reports it's not just delicious when you add it to your latte, you could be getting
some medical benefits, too.
For this reason, people are adding it by the spoonful to their coffees, on their toast,
and even in their soups.
But there are a few different types of cinnamon, and the cheap stuff we get at the store might
not have all the health benefits the more expensive varieties do.
That more affordable stuff is called Cassia cinnamon, and NPR reports that EU research
found that high doses of it could cause liver damage.
How much is too much?
Less than you think.
The EU suggests no more than a teaspoon a day for the average adult, but there's good
news.
Not everyone seems susceptible to this liver damage, and if it's caught, it's reversible.
Edible flowers
There's no denying that desserts decorated with edible flowers are very pretty.
But botanist James Wong noticed something else about a lot of these desserts, and that's
the frightening fact that not only are a lot of these flowers not edible, they're downright
dangerous.
He wrote a piece for The Guardian warning would-be social media superstars about the
danger in using some of the flowers they employ for finishing touches on their foods.
Wong stresses that while there are plenty of pretty flowers that are perfectly edible,
you should know the difference before popping a few on top of a cupcake.
Some cause swelling, sores, rashes, and even liver failure.
Liquid nitrogen
In 2017, the Pensacola Interstate Fair was serving up a liquid nitrogen-treated dessert
called Dragon's Breath.
According to Today Food, it burned at least one girl when she touched it, sending her
to the ER for some emergency surgery to save her thumb.
That's not even the worst injury caused by the stuff — back in 2012 The Telegraph reported
on the tragedy that befell 18-year-old Gaby Scanlon.
She drank a correctly-prepared cocktail made with liquid nitrogen, and suffered a rare
reaction that led to the removal of her stomach.
SO yeah, don't eat anything that can do THIS.
"Hasta la vista…baby"
Home-brewed kombucha
Kombucha has been regaled as a cure-all for conditions and ailments ranging from high
blood pressure and arthritis to cancer, but according to the National Capital Poison Center,
your homemade kombucha might come with a serious risk.
Because of the process used to make home-brew kombucha, there's a chance the brew will turn
toxic.
Since it's highly acidic, it can eat away at whatever container it's being fermented
in and become contaminated.
The poison center says there have been reports of lead poisoning and hepatitis stemming from
home brews, and people have developed conditions like inflamed heart muscles, cardiac arrest,
and severe muscle weakness.
It's been linked to at least one death, and they also add there's not much in the way
of substantiated health claims that confirm this is the health tonic it's touted as, anyway.
Is it worth the risk?
"I ordered kombucha which I did not realize had alcohol.
It was described to me as a healthy organic tea.
Next thing I knew i was 70 miles away wrapped in a blanket shaking off a meth high."
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