Charcoal has come a long way since Gwyneth Paltrow first introduced the activated type to a sceptical public as part of a cleansing detox drink. We’ve spotted it in a growing number of places, and thanks to its natural ability to filter out impurities it’s a great digestive aid at this time of year when we’re all more prone to overindulging (it’s a known flatulence aid, too!). From smearing it on our skin to clear clogged pores, to using it to filter water and whiten teeth… it’s increasingly being used as an ingredient in trendy food, too. Charcoal biscuits aren’t just healthy, they also double up as eye-catching canapés, and hipster cafes around the country are serving up inky black burger buns and sourdough topped with smashed avocado. Oh, and it’s also thought to help cure hangovers.
SAY THANK YOU!
Those three little words are all very well, but to really help your relationship flourish, just two are better: ‘thank you’. American psychologist Sara Algoe spent the past eight years studying gratitude, and looked at 47 couples who’d been together an average of five years. For 30 days, they were asked to discuss either the mundane details of the previous day or to express gratitude towards one another regularly. The ‘gratitude’ couples felt that their relationships became stronger, more adaptable to change and more positive than the others. So don’t save ‘thank you’ for presents; make it a habit and you’ll enjoy the gift of a strong and happy relationship.