
In a new health advisory, the CDC raised the alarm over a surge in rabies cases. The virus is almost always fatal once symptoms begin.
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In a new health advisory, the CDC raised the alarm over a surge in rabies cases. The virus is almost always fatal once symptoms begin.
Officials are warning of the spread of an outbreak of deadly bacteria linked to contaminated broccoli sprouts.
Idaho-based Evergreen Fresh Sprouts LLC announced Thursday it is voluntarily recalling 215 cases of broccoli sprouts because they may be contaminated with salmonella bovismorbificans, a type of bacteria that causes bloody diarrhea.
The affected cases, which had six 4oz bags in each, were distributed to food co-ops, restaurants, food service customers and grocery stores in Washington state, Montana and Idaho.
The products are packaged in plastic bags or plastic clamshell containers with expiration dates of September 7, September 9, September 11, September 14 and September 16.
According to the latest figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 22 people have been sickened in Washington, Montana, Idaho and Utah. There have also been two hospitalizations but no deaths reported.
FDA officials also note the contaminated products may have reached other states as well.
The recall has not been classified, though – given previous similar recalls – it may be given a Class I designation, which represents ‘a situation in which there is a reasonable probability that the use of, or exposure to, a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.’
While most people recover from salmonella on their own, vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly and immunocompromised individuals may be at risk of several complications such as infections and organ damage.

Broccoli sprouts have been recalled as they may be contaminated with salmonella (stock image)
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The FDA urged consumers, restaurants and retailers to not eat, serve or sell the recalled broccoli sprouts.
Customers who purchased or received the sprouts should carefully clean and sanitize any surfaces or containers that they touched to reduce the spread of salmonella, the FDA said.
A total of 22 illnesses have been reported to the CDC, though the agency notes more recent illnesses may not yet be reported, as it takes three to four weeks to determine if a sick individual is part of an outbreak.
The true toll is also likely higher because many people recover without seeking medical care or testing.
According to the CDC, illnesses tied to the outbreak began July 7 and continued through August 26.
Of those, all 19 of those interviewed by state and local public health officials confirmed eating sprouts before becoming ill. All but two of the same group said they specifically ate broccoli sprouts.
Washington reported the highest number of illnesses at 16. There were four people sickened in Montana, one in Idaho and one in Utah. The two hospitalized individuals both live in Washington.
On September 2, the Washington State Department of Health announced it was investigating a salmonella outbreak after 13 residents reported becoming ill after eating the company’s sprouts between July 7 and July 18.
The following day, the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services announced its own investigation after two people became ill.
Evergreen Fresh Sprouts recalled its broccoli sprouts based on a positive salmonella test result from a sample analyzed by Montana officials, according to the FDA.
Salmonella bovismorbificans is a strain of salmonella that can cause diarrhea, fever, stomach cramps and dehydration – symptoms that require medical attention, particularly for children under five, adults over 65 and those with weakened immune systems.

Pictured above is a package of the recalled broccoli sprouts

The above CDC map shows states where illnesses related to the outbreak have been reported. Most of the illnesses (16) were in Washington
The CDC estimates that salmonella causes approximately 1.3 million infections, 26,500 hospitalizations and 420 deaths in the US each year.
While most cases resolve with supportive care, primarily hydration and rest, the bacteria’s ability to survive stomach acid and invade intestinal cells makes it a powerful pathogen.
In severe cases, the infection can escalate beyond the gastrointestinal tract.
When salmonella enters the bloodstream, a condition known as bacteremia, it can travel to other parts of the body and cause secondary infections.
These can include endocarditis, or infection of the heart valves; osteomyelitis, or bone infection; meningitis, or an infection of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord; or septic arthritis, a joint infection.
These invasive infections are particularly dangerous and require prompt treatment with antibiotics, often administered intravenously in a hospital setting.
Invasive salmonellosis can also lead to long-term complications, even after the initial infection resolves.
Some people develop reactive arthritis, a condition characterized by joint pain, eye inflammation and painful urination that can persist for months or even years.
Others may experience post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome, with chronic digestive issues stemming from the damage the bacteria caused to the intestinal lining during the acute phase of illness.
Salmonella is resilient. It can survive on surfaces for weeks and is resistant to certain environmental stresses, making it difficult to eliminate completely from food manufacturing facilities.
Because contaminated foods look, smell and taste completely normal, the only way to protect consumers is to remove them from the supply chain before they can be eaten.
The cases come amid a nationwide recall of jalapenos that were contaminated with salmonella. As of August 21, there have been 431 cases and 57 hospitalizations across 32 states in that recall.
Deadly prostate cancers could be caught sooner after researchers discovered telltale genetic ‘footprints’ behind almost nine in ten tumours.
Experts described the findings as ‘hugely exciting’, saying the discovery could one day lead to men being offered more personalised treatment.
The new study, published in the journal Nature, saw scientists examine tumour samples of 959 men.
They identified eight distinct genetic ‘footprints’ that account for around 85 per cent of prostate cancers.
And four of these were linked to cancers that were more likely to spread outside of the prostate.
Experts said these ‘important new clues’ about the biological mechanisms behind the disease could lead to developments for better tests and earlier identification of high-risk cancers.
The new study, from the Pan Prostate Cancer Group (PPCG), a global collaborative, also found other footprints were linked to age and ancestry, including patterns that were more common in black men.
Ros Eeles, professor of oncogenetics at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, and co-founder of the PPCG, said: ‘For many years we’ve known that prostate cancer is not a single disease.

Scientists identified eight distinct genetic ‘footprints’ that account for around 85 per cent of prostate cancers
‘Two men may receive the same diagnosis but have cancers that develop and behave very differently, and we have not fully understood the biology behind those differences.
‘Some of these findings are helping us understand aggressive disease, while others are revealing entirely new avenues for research.
‘Most importantly, this work brings us closer to identifying distinct molecular forms of prostate cancer.
‘Our long-term goal is to help ensure that patients receive the right treatment at the right time, based on the biology of their individual cancer rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.’

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men in Britain, with 63,000 cases and 12,000 deaths every year – one every 45 minutes.
Many are diagnosed too late for treatment to succeed.
Black men face a one in four lifetime risk, double that of the general population, and men whose fathers or brothers have had the disease face a similar threat.
The Daily Mail is campaigning to end needless prostate cancer deaths and for a national prostate cancer screening programme, initially targeted at high-risk men, such as those who are black, have a family history of the disease or specific genetic mutations.
Colin Cooper, professor of cancer genetics at the University of East Anglia and co-founder of the PPCG, said: ‘The scale of collaboration has helped uncover important new clues about the biological processes that drive prostate cancer and why some forms are more aggressive than others.
‘Taken together, these findings are helping us build a much clearer picture of why some cancers remain slow growing while others become life-threatening.
‘Ultimately, we hope this knowledge will lead to better tests, earlier identification of high-risk cancers and more personalised care, so that more patients receive the right treatment at the right time.’
Lead author of the new study, Professor Joachim Weischenfeldt, from the University of Copenhagen, added: ‘It is remarkable how much clinical significance these genetic fingerprints appear to have.
‘They can help distinguish between patients who are developing life-threatening cancer and those who are not.
‘While further clinical studies are needed before these findings can be used in patient care, they bring us a step closer to understanding the biology that drives aggressive prostate cancer and to delivering more personalised treatment for patients.’
Dr Hayley Luxton, from the charity Prostate Cancer UK, which co-funded the study, said: ‘At the moment, it’s not obvious which prostate cancers are more likely to spread outside the prostate, which makes it harder for men to receive the best treatment for their individual cancer.
‘These findings from the Pan Prostate Cancer Group are hugely exciting and could lead to men getting the personalised treatment they need for their prostate cancer.’
Sitting on the sofa on a quiet Sunday morning in April, Becki Barratt felt a deep sense of contentment as she nursed her three-week-old son, Beauden, while her two-year-old daughter, Aréya, played nearby.
In fact Becki, a health and fitness coach, had only just remarked to her partner James, 32, how incredibly well she felt – especially considering she’d recently given birth.
Yet seconds later, everything changed.
‘James went upstairs to go to the loo and a strange, heavy feeling suddenly came over me,’ recalls Becki, 33, who lives in Chester.
‘My left hand began spasming involuntarily. I managed to put Beauden down on the floor, but when I tried to stand up, my left leg collapsed completely underneath and I fell to the floor, unable to move.’
Becki screamed for James, who raced downstairs to find her immobile.
‘I looked at him, my speech slurring, and said: “I feel like I’m having a stroke”,’ she recalls.
‘It felt absurd even saying it. I was 33, ate a great diet, had no high blood pressure, and ran my own fitness business. How could I be having a stroke?’

Three weeks after giving birth, 33-year-old fitness coach Becki Barratt suffered a paralysing stroke while breastfeeding her newborn son, leaving her entire left side unable to move

An MRI confirmed that a clot had cut off oxygen to the right side of Becki’s brain, and she began rehabilitation therapy the very next day. Becki seen with mum Melanie and son Beauden
Yet Becki’s instinct would be proven right – she was having a stroke, caused when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off.
In the UK, someone has a stroke every five minutes – around 100,000 people every year.
The most common kind is an ischaemic stroke, when a blood clot blocks blood flow and oxygen to the brain, accounting for around 85 per cent of cases.
‘While most strokes happen in people over 65, around one in four strokes occur in people of working age – and this number is steadily increasing,’ says Professor Martin James, a consultant stroke physician at the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.
Indeed, research suggests strokes are rising in people under 55. And experts suggest some may have different causes – as they seem to affect those who, like Becki, have none of the usual risk factors, such as high blood pressure or smoking.
Within 15 minutes, an ambulance arrived and Becki was rushed to hospital.
‘My daughter saw me being wheeled off on a stretcher, screaming that someone was taking her mum away,’ says Becki. ‘It broke my heart.’
The entire left side of her body was paralysed by the time she arrived to hospital.
‘I couldn’t move it at all, my face had no expression and my voice was a flat, slurred monotone,’ she recalls. ‘I thought, “This is it. I’ll never move again”.’
An emergency CT scan showed no visible bleed on the brain to indicate a haemorrhagic stroke, where bleeding in or around the brain causes sudden, severe symptoms such as a violent headache, weakness down one side or loss of consciousness.
As Becki sometimes had migraines, doctors initially thought her paralysis might be a symptom of a hemiplegic migraine – a rare type that can mimic stroke, causing temporary weakness down one side of the body caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain, rather than a blockage in blood flow.
But to be safe, doctors administered the clot-busting treatment thrombolysis, while waiting for final test results.
Giving this drug within a ‘golden hour’ window gives the best possible chance of survival and reduces long-term disability from an ischaemic stroke.
Two days later, an MRI confirmed that a clot had indeed cut off oxygen to the right side of Becki’s brain. The prompt use of thrombolysis had saved her life, but her brain tissue was damaged, leaving her left side paralysed.
Every stroke is different, so no one could predict how Becki would recover.
‘My whole world spiralled,’ she recalls. ‘We were living in this perfect baby bubble – and in a single second, it had burst.’
She began daily rehabilitation the next day in hospital.
Accustomed to lifting heavy weights in the gym, Becki suddenly found her ‘entire goal’ entailed ‘trying to force a neural signal down to bend my little finger on my left hand’.
Three days after her stroke, she managed her first tiny steps, supported by four physiotherapists: ‘It felt like a humongous leap forward,’ she says.
Becki was in hospital for five days.
Arriving home was an emotional experience – but also ‘a dose of reality,’ she says.
In a wheelchair and unable to use her left side, she had to get used to her ‘new norm’, as she puts it.
Both James’s and Becki’s parents rallied to help look after the children, while Becki had a bed made up in the family sitting room.
‘I’d lie there helpless, hearing my baby crying for me upstairs, unable to reach him,’ she recalls.
‘Every day became about small victories – changing a nappy, holding my children safely, making a cup of tea.’
Since the stroke, Becki has had hour-long rehabilitation therapy at her home three to four times a week.

As a successful health and fitness coach in her 30s, Becki had none of the usual risk factors for strokes, such as high blood pressure, smoking, obesity or being over the age of 55

The risk of a stroke is nine times higher in the days around childbirth and three times higher in the six weeks afterwards, compared with a woman’s normal risk outside pregnancy
Five months on, she can walk and even run short intervals. Her left side remains weaker – she can only hold her children on that side for a minute or so, for example.
She still doesn’t know exactly what caused the stroke – something experts say is not unusual in younger patients.
‘Even after extensive tests, sometimes we simply cannot say for certain why a stroke happened,’ says Professor James.
Becki was checked for a patent foramen ovale (PFO) – a flap-like opening between the two top chambers of the heart, and a common cause of ischaemic strokes in otherwise healthy people – but this came back clear. As did blood tests for different blood-clotting disorders.
She’s now awaiting a transoesophageal echocardiogram – a more detailed ultrasound scan of the heart taken from inside the oesophagus, which could still find a PFO.
Up to one in four people have a PFO (which normally close up shortly after birth). They usually don’t cause problems, but sometimes a blood clot from a vein can escape through the hole to the brain.
If a PFO proves to be the cause of Becki’s stroke, it could be treated with surgery to close up the opening.
But Becki says: ‘I’m aware I may never get the answers I want, as around 50 per cent of strokes are left unexplained.’
Although she’s aware another future stroke is possible, for now she says: ‘All I can do is focus on what is in my control.’
The fact Becki had recently given birth could offer a possible explanation. Pregnancy and the period immediately following childbirth are recognised times when stroke risk is higher, if uncommon, says Professor Deb Lowe, a consultant stroke physician at Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
‘Pregnancy can bring an increased risk of high blood pressure and blood clots due to the demands on the mother’s body at the time.
‘This is why blood pressure is monitored regularly throughout pregnancy.’
The risk of a stroke is nine times higher in the days immediately around childbirth and three times higher in the six weeks afterwards, according to a major study involving two million women in England, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association in 2017. This is compared with a woman’s normal risk outside pregnancy. Overall, the risk is estimated to be around 30 strokes for every 100,000 pregnancies.
Women who develop pre-eclampsia – high blood pressure during pregnancy – are at much greater risk, with strokes occurring in as many as one in 500 births among this group.
But other potential causes are still emerging, according to Dr Linxin Li, an associate professor at Wolfson Centre for the Prevention of Stroke and Dementia at the University of Oxford.
A study she co-authored, published in JAMA Neurology in 2022, found that stroke incidence in under-55s rose by 67 per cent between 2002-2010 and 2010-2018, even as rates fell among older adults.
The research was based on GP data from 94,567 people in Oxfordshire.
Crucially, a similar pattern wasn’t seen for other cardiovascular problems such as heart attacks, suggesting this reflects factors that are specific to stroke and cannot be entirely attributed to traditional risk factors for clots such as blood pressure, being overweight and smoking.
In fact Dr Li’s research has found the sharpest increases occur among younger patients with none of those risk factors – suggesting other causes such as long working hours, stress and air pollution.
The study also found a significant rise in the proportion of young stroke patients in more skilled, professional or managerial occupations – potentially supporting the ‘long working hours’ theory.
Previous research has also found that working more than 55 hours a week is a risk factor for stroke, as well as atrial fibrillation (an irregular heart rhythm that itself raises stroke risk).
‘This suggests a plausible biological pathway from overwork to stroke via heart rhythm disruption,’ says Dr Li.
Meanwhile, it’s thought air pollution could lead to strokes by increasing inflammation that then increases the risk of clots.
A major 2023 review in the journal Stroke found that air pollution can trigger strokes in susceptible people on days when pollution is particularly bad.
But while these short-term pollution spikes were found to trigger strokes in older people, the study also found that long-term exposure to air pollution raised the risk for younger, healthier people.
‘The strongest evidence for a youth-specific air pollution link is more about cumulative long-term exposure than sudden pollution spikes,’ says Dr Li.
One important preventative measure is regularly checking blood pressure.
Experts agree that high blood pressure, dubbed a silent killer as it’s symptomless, is a major modifiable risk factor for stroke – which is why everyone should have their blood pressure regularly checked, says Professor James.
Becki is now training to run the London Marathon next April for the charity Stroke Association.
The race date coincides with the anniversary of her stroke – it’s to fulfil a promise she made to herself watching the race on TV while lying in hospital.
‘I can’t run for more than three minutes right now, so 26.2 miles feels a long way off,’ she smiles, ‘But I will get there.’
To support Becki’s fundraising for the Stroke Association, or to learn the signs of stroke using FAST (Face, Arms, Speech, Time), visit stroke.org.uk
Famously, mackerel is considered one of the healthiest fish you can eat because it’s packed with brain-boosting omega-3s.
But an investigation has revealed that many tinned ‘mackerel’ products, stocked by the likes of Sainsbury’s, Lidl and Tesco no longer contain any of the oily fish.
Tinned fish supergiant Princes switched its branded mackerel range to Chilean jack mackerel last year – which, despite having a similar name, is an entirely different fish.
Yet UK retailers continue to sell ‘jack mackerel’ products alongside traditional mackerel, under signs that conflate the two very different products.
Jack mackerel belongs to the Carangidae family, while true mackerel belongs to the Scombridae family.
But the real clencher for health-conscious consumers is the nutritional quality. Prince’s jack mackerel contains half as much omega-3 as true mackerel.
‘Tinned fish is an affordable and convenient way for households to add important nutrients to their diets and eat the recommended two portions of fish a week, one of which should be oily.
‘It’s a real concern when manufacturers quietly downgrade everyday staples like these as shoppers can end up paying the same price for a product that delivers significantly less nutritional value,’ Sue Davies, Which? head of food policy said.

UK canned ‘mackerel’ now contains no mackerel
Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for everything from heart health – helping to remove harmful fats from the blood while increasing levels of good cholesterol – to dementia prevention.
One study found that people who regularly eat oily fish have healthier blood vessels and lower blood pressure, which may help protect against dementia.
Another found that those who have higher levels of omega-3 in their blood perform better on thinking tests.
Among oily fish, mackerel provides one of the richest sources of omega-3 per 100g, ahead of salmon and sardines.
Demand for tinned fish has soared over the last two years, with sales up nearly a fifth – as health-conscious consumers look to make money-savvy choices.
But consumers have started to notice the difference, complaining about changes in taste and texture, including less oily fish.
‘It smells rather metallic…like cheap rubbish tuna,’ canned seafood reviewer Marcus Ansell said in a recent video posted to his 650,000 Instagram followers.
The swap was largely pushed by concerns over sustainability, with Waitrose halting sales of fresh, chilled and frozen true mackerel in April, over overfishing concerns.

Critics say consumers are getting less healthful benefits without knowing it
Canned products are gradually being phased out as stocks last.
Lidl, meanwhile, has been transitioning to sustainably sourced Chilean jack mackerel – which it sells under supermarket signs that simply read ‘mackerel in olive oil’.
And despite ‘jack mackerel’ being roughly a third cheaper than true mackerel, food giants like Tesco continue to sell the substitute fish at similar prices, with a discrepancy of just 20p.
The mackerel catch in the North East Atlantic has remained 39 per cent higher than the limit advised by scientists for over 15 years.
The fishery no longer owns a Marine Stewardship Council certification, a sustainability badge required by many major retailers.
Chilean jack mackerel, however, is certified.
Until last year, the faux-mackerel was not allowed to be labelled ‘jack mackerel’, but weeks after Princes launched its new tins, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs changed its rules to permit the new labelling.
But the move has sparked outrage among critics, who say the new rules blur the distinction between true mackerel and jack mackerel, potentially catfishing consumers
‘Consumers will be suffering because pure mackerel is a much better species to eat than jack mackerel,’ Stewart Harper, former managing director of North Atlantic Fishing Company, told the Financial Times.
It’s one of the most common ailments that makes even the smallest of movements agonising.
Frozen shoulder – when the tissue around the joint becomes inflamed and shrinks – happens to at least one in 20 people, causing pain, tightness and hugely restricted movement.
Other than physiotherapy to loosen the tight tissue, there’s little that many GPs can do to help – prompting many to turn to ‘natural’ and experimental remedies, such as supplements.
Recent research suggests there may be a benefit. A study published last year by Indian scientists found a curious link between both frozen shoulder and back pain, and the so-called sunshine pill, vitamin D.
Scientists analysed medical reports of more than 5,000 people and found that those who are deficient in the nutrient are far more likely to suffer the condition.
Experts suggested that low levels of the vitamin can trigger the release of cells that promote inflammation, worsening pain and stiffness.
So should those blighted by frozen shoulder start popping daily vitamin D? And will other supplements help too?
Here, top experts reveal the capsules they’d pick for common aches and pains, the ones that don’t work, and other remedies that are always worth trying.

The UK supplement industry is valued between £3.6 billion and £4.8 billion
There is growing evidence that conditions like frozen shoulder and chronic back pain are a result of inflammation within the body – which is worsened by several nutrient deficiencies.
Low levels of magnesium, B vitamins, as well as vitamin D, have been found to increase the risk of musculoskeletal problems.
In 2024, experts at the Rothman Orthopaedic Institute in Florida examined several studies on the topic and concluded that vitamin D has anti-inflammatory effects, influences muscle function and tissue healing.
‘Correcting deficiency’ – which is suffered by around one in five Britons – could therefore be an effective treatment for shoulder problems, they concluded.
However, physiotherapist Sammy Margot is clear that any potential benefit would likely only be seen in those with a deficiency.
‘Ensuring you have enough vitamin D matters for anyone with a musculoskeletal problem,’ she says, adding that this won’t necessarily be an instant pain reliever.
Meanwhile, research into the healing power of other supplements for frozen shoulder is ‘lacking and inconsistent’, she says.
She adds that many patients are convinced that supplements like turmeric – known for anti-inflammatory properties – help reduce symptoms.
‘But as I’m aware, there’s no specific trials showing that turmeric or its active ingredient, curcumin, is effective for frozen shoulder.
‘Most of the research into curcumin and joint pain involves knee osteoarthritis, which is an entirely different condition. And even there the evidence is inconsistent.’

Frozen shoulder is one of the most common ailements, affecting one on 20 Britons
So what does work?
Ms Margot recommends steroid injections, which work by delivering anti-inflammatory medicine into the shoulder joint to ease pain and swelling, and can be delivered by specialist clinics and some GPs.
However, the level of success will depend on the stage at which you have the treatment, she says.
‘There’s much stronger evidence for corticosteroid injections if they’re performed during the early, more painful stage.’
Once that acute pain begins to settle, mobility exercises and stretching become increasingly important for restoring movement,’ she adds.
Some specialists recommend combining an injection with physiotherapy as combined they may provide greater improvement.
Doing nothing is also an option as a frozen shoulder often eventually resolves itself.
But Ms Margot says this could take up to three years. ‘Intervention isn’t just about comfort, it’s about not losing years of shoulder function.’
Back pain is one of the most common reasons people reach for painkillers, supplements and alternative remedies – affecting around 80 per cent of Britons at some point in their life.
Some supplements could ‘play a role’ in improving symptoms, according to Margot.
Turmeric, which contains anti-inflammatory curcumin, could be useful for a bad back.
A high quality trial published last year in the journal Sage found that a single dose of high-strength turmeric – combined with a herb called boswellia – significantly reduced back pain in 90 per cent of people studied within four hours.
Other studies have found similar results in those taking turmeric for a 90-day period, with patients reporting a reduction in disability and blood tests showing fewer inflammatory markers.
There’s also evidence it could help knee problems. A 2025 analysis of 17 trials found turmeric reduced pain in people with knee osteoarthritis, compared to a placebo.
The evidence is ‘more promising than that concerning other supplements’, says Margot, adding that the benefits are likely to be ‘modest’.

Physiotherapist Sammy Margot says there are a handful of supplements she may recommend, depending on the patient
Curcumin should therefore be considered an add-on rather than a replacement for established treatment.
Omega-3 supplements may also have a role, she adds, although the strongest case is for people who eat little oily fish or those with an inflammatory form of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis.
While magnesium has become hugely fashionable for everything from muscle aches to sleep, Ms Margot says there is very little research showing it improves back pain.
Instead, the evidence points to assisting with cramps.
Back pain, she explains, can be caused by a range of problems, meaning, in many cases, an extra dose of an important nutrient might be irrelevant.
‘There are problems involving discs, joints or muscles, irritation of a nerve root, deconditioning, or sometimes have no obvious structural cause at all,’ she says. ‘Each may require a different approach.
‘That’s why a supplement claim that lumps all of that together is unlikely to work as trials tend to look at specific problems.’
For most people wanting to recover from common muscle soreness, less glamorous basics have far stronger evidence, according to Margot.
For instance, getting sufficient sleep, consuming adequate protein to help muscles repair and grow, and gradually building strength and fitness.
Investing in a resistance band, a single session with a physiotherapist to get a tailored exercise plan, or a decent pair of supportive shoes, are all evidence-based recommendations, she says.
‘Supplements may sometimes produce modest improvements in pain.
‘But they cannot restore range of movement, strengthen muscles, or address what caused the pain in the first place.’
Eyelash extensions could leave you with an unpleasant infestation of mites that burrow into the lash line and distort vision.
Research has found that 96 per cent of those who regularly undergo the beauty treatment are blighted by the microscopic creepy crawlies.
The mites, medically known as demodex, feed off the dead skin cells that collect in the dried glue used to attach the synthetic hair, causing the bugs to breed rapidly.
The extensions can also ‘trap’ dead mites, stopping them from naturally shedding.
Doctors have warned that the unpleasant problem can have potentially serious consequences, including itchy, scaly skin and blurred vision.
Around 129,000 eyelash procedures are carried out every week in the UK. In extension treatments beauticians glue strands of synthetic fibres to the eyelids, making the lashes appear fuller and longer.
Treatments cost anywhere from £40 to £150.

Eye doctors found 96 per cent of women who have the beauty procedure every three to four weeks were crawling with mites

The mites, known as demodex folliculorum, irritate follicles and block oil-producing glands, triggering a painful reaction known as demodicosis
But now, ophthalmologists have warned of ‘growing evidence’ the procedure ‘may create problems’.
Experts from the National Pirogov Memorial Medical University in Ukraine presented compelling evidence of harm at the 44th Congress of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS).
The research, conducted by ophthalmologist Dr Tetiana Zhmud and her team, involved surveying 345 women aged between 16 and 28 to ask how often they had eyelash extensions.
Half of the women said they had the procedure every three to four weeks – the equivalent to around 17 times per year.
Some 48 per cent said they suffered with a form of discomfort, redness or itching afterwards.
To analyse these reports in greater detail, researchers used a technique called meibography – using infrared light to analyse the glands beneath the eyelids.
The test showed that 85 per cent of women who’d had eyelash extensions at least ten times had glands that were blocked or not producing enough oil to keep eyes hydrated.
The team then used a microscope to analyse samples of eyelashes from 25 women who regularly had the procedure.
They found the mites in 24 of them, equating to 96 per cent. Meanwhile, 18 of the women also showed signs of itching, irritation, redness, swelling, scaly skin and sticky eyelashes.

Dr Tetiana Zhmud, an ophthalmologist at the National Pirogov Memorial Medical University in Ukraine, led and presented the research
While demodex mites are very common in adults, they usually shed naturally and do not cause harm.
But when they accumulate excessively – usually because they get trapped in debris or proliferate unusually – they can trigger painful eye infections.
Experts added that, as well as causing the problem, eyelash extensions can also make the parasitic mites harder to spot.
‘Usually if they are present on the eyelashes, we spot them by the “collarettes” they leave around the eyelashes,’ said Professor Sorcha Ni Dhubhghaill, chair of the ESCRS Cornea Committee, who was not involved in the research.
‘These are waxy rings made up of dead mites, mite faeces and mite eggs, mixed with skin and oil.
‘Since the adhesive used during eyelash extension procedures is applied near the base of the natural lashes, where collarettes are typically located, it could be much harder to spot them in women using eyelash extensions.’
Dr Zhmud said the latest findings highlight the importance of good hygiene, awareness of red flags and timely assessment when problems symptoms arise.
The expert recommended those who undergo extension treatments to clean eyelids twice a day with a gentle cleanser and lash brush.
Pricey menopause supplements marketed to mid-life women are at best useless and, at worst, delivering ‘potentially toxic’ ingredients, experts have warned.
Some products – that claim to reduce symptoms like hot flushes and brain fog – could put women at risk of vomiting, confusion and organ damage, if taken at high doses.
Meanwhile, roughly half of the supplements on the market do not contain nutrients that are proven to boost menopausal health, such as vitamin D and calcium, University College London (UCL) researchers found.
The team analysed the ingredients, doses and cost of more than 200 menopause supplements from nine major retailers.
They concluded that consumers are falling victim to a ‘menopause gold rush’, with women spending hundreds of pounds on products ‘not supported by scientific evidence’.
Poppy Sullivan, co-author of the research and menopause expert from UCL added: ‘Some nutrients can have adverse effects when consumed in excess over time.
‘For example, excessive vitamin D intake can theoretically lead to high calcium levels, which could cause adverse effects such as vomiting and confusion.

Menopause happens when a woman’s periods stop due to lower hormone levels
‘Certain botanical ingredients in some menopause supplements may also have risks.’
Ms Sullivan pointed specifically to a herb called black cohosh, which is said to be beneficial for night sweats but is ‘known to carry a potential risk of liver toxicity.’
The global market for menopause supplements is expected to surpass £18.4 million by 2030.
But experts warn that without better research and stricter regulations, women could be spending substantial amounts on dummy pills.
‘The menopause supplement market is growing rapidly, despite limited scientific evidence that many of these products improve menopause symptoms,’ Professor Joyce Harper, expert in women health and study lead author said.
‘Some social media influencers promote these products as effective solutions, despite many claims not being supported by scientific evidence.
‘This can contribute to the spread of misinformation and help drive a rapidly growing menopause supplement market, leading some women to spend substantial amounts of money on supplements.’
But, she added: ‘There is currently limited research available to substantiate the efficacy of many menopause-specific supplements.’
The menopause is when a woman’s periods stop due to lower hormone levels, usually between the ages of 45 and 55.
It is estimated that there are currently around 13 million perimenopausal or menopausal women in the UK.
Common physical symptoms experienced by some 80 per cent of women include hot flushes, palpitations and difficulty sleeping, and mental symptoms including brain fog and mood changes.

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) replaces the hormones oestrogen and progesterone, which fall to low levels as women approach the menopause
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is the first line of treatment, but some women turn to supplements for added help with symptom management.
The British Menopause Society recommends a daily 10mcg or 400IU vitamin D supplement only for women of menopausal age.
The International Menopause Society states that adequate calcium is vital for the prevention of brittle bone condition osteoporosis, which is common post-menopause.
But the investigation found half the products analysed contained vitamin D, while less than a quarter included bone-boosting calcium.
Instead, most were found to contain herbs and plant compounds, such as red clover, which is said to mimic the effects of oestrogen in the body and ease symptoms.
The investigation also revealed a large discrepancy in cost, with prices ranging from as little as £1.50 to £95 per month.
Dr Anne-Marie Boylan, an expert in qualitative health research at the University of Oxford said: ‘For some women, ensuring a balanced diet may provide many of the vitamins and minerals found in menopause supplements.
‘Many ingredients in menopause supplements are also available in general multivitamins or herbal products not branded for menopause, which are often cheaper alternatives.
‘For symptoms affecting quality of life, the best option remains medical advice, though some women hesitate for fear of feeling dismissed by healthcare professionals.’
The researchers are now calling for more high-quality research into menopause supplements, including clinical trials, to determine which ingredients are effective and safe for menopausal women.
Once largely reserved for athletes recovering after a grueling workout, electrolyte drinks have become the latest must-have wellness accessory.
Millions now sip brightly colored drinks or add electrolyte powders to their water every day, convinced they are a healthier, more effective way to stay hydrated.
But experts are now warning that this supposedly healthy habit could have an unexpected downside.
Many electrolyte products contain significant amounts of sodium, the main component of salt, which, consumed in excess, can raise blood pressure and potentially damage the kidneys over time.
And the people most at risk may have no idea they are vulnerable.
More than one in seven American adults are estimated to have chronic kidney disease – and as many as nine in ten of those people don’t know they have it. Meanwhile, around one in six Americans with high blood pressure are unaware they have the condition, which is a major cause of heart attacks and stroke.
Some of the most popular electrolyte products can also deliver a surprisingly large dose of sodium.
A single packet of Liquid I.V., designed to be mixed with 16 ounces of water, contains around 500mg of sodium. That’s roughly three times the amount in a one-ounce serving of Lay’s Classic potato chips – or about 45 chips.

Millions now use electrolytes as part of their daily routine in the belief they will keep them better hydrated
Other products contain even more. A packet of LMNT contains 1,000mg of sodium – nearly half the recommended daily maximum in a single drink.
Americans already consume around 3,400mg of sodium every day on average, according to the Food and Drug Administration – almost 50 percent more than the recommended daily limit of 2,300mg.
That means adding a high-sodium electrolyte drink to an already salt-heavy diet could push intake to risky levels.
Kidney disease expert Professor Simon Davies, at Keele University in the UK, says: ‘Just as people shouldn’t have too much sodium in their diet, I would advise caution with electrolyte drinks.
‘The danger is that consuming an excess amount every day in a drink can increase blood pressure, which can then damage the kidneys.
‘Damaged kidneys are not as efficient at removing excess salt, so blood pressure rises even higher and the kidneys are damaged even further – and so on and so on, in a vicious circle.
‘What’s worse is that people may not realize the damage has been done until the problems are already well advanced.’
Electrolyte drinks were originally designed for a specific purpose – replacing fluids and minerals lost during strenuous exercise or bouts of illness involving vomiting or diarrhea.
Today, however, fueled by celebrity endorsements and their promotion as an everyday wellness essential, they’ve gone firmly mainstream.
They are now widely available in grocery stores, convenience stores, gas stations and pharmacies, either ready to drink or as tablets and packets of powder that dissolve in water.
Professor Davies says: ‘The marketing suggests we need these drinks for hydration. But we’ve managed to survive on the planet for a very long time without them. For most people, they are simply not necessary.’
For those who do need them, however, they are effective.
Electrolytes are minerals that carry a tiny electrical charge when dissolved in the blood and other body fluids and are vital for the proper functioning of cells in the muscles, heart and brain. They also play an important role in helping the body maintain its fluid balance.
But for those with kidney disease, consuming extra sodium may be particularly problematic.
The National Kidney Foundation warns that when the kidneys aren’t working properly, too much sodium can lead to fluid buildup, swelling and higher blood pressure, as well as putting additional strain on the heart.
Many adults with chronic kidney disease are advised to consume less than 2,300mg of sodium a day, although the precise limit depends on the individual and the severity of their condition.

Electrolyte drinks were originally formulated to replace salts and fluids lost by athletes during prolonged, strenuous exercise, or by people suffering from illnesses involving vomiting or diarrhoea
And sodium isn’t the only electrolyte that can pose problems. Potassium is also found in some electrolyte and sports drinks, and people with more advanced kidney disease may struggle to remove excess potassium from their blood. In severe cases, dangerously high potassium levels can cause serious heart problems.
High blood pressure itself can then further damage the delicate blood vessels in the kidneys, creating the vicious circle described by Professor Davies.
And the problem can remain hidden for years.
High blood pressure, often dubbed a ‘silent killer’ because it typically causes no obvious symptoms while damaging vital organs, affects nearly half of US adults – around 120 million people.
Compounding the problem is that many Americans may have little idea how much sodium they are already consuming.
According to the American Heart Association, more than 70 percent of the sodium in the average American diet comes from packaged, prepared and restaurant foods – rather than salt consciously added during cooking or at the table.
It means even people who rarely reach for the salt shaker can unknowingly consume large amounts of sodium before adding an electrolyte drink to their daily routine.
In some circumstances, however, electrolyte drinks can be useful.
Professor Davies explains: ‘Serious physical exercise like running a marathon or doing high-intensity training in the gym can mean losing a lot of salt through sweat. This can lead to cramps, or feeling dizzy or faint because of a drop in blood pressure.
‘Someone can also lose a lot of salt if they’ve been really sick or had bad diarrhea. In these cases, it can make sense to take an electrolyte drink.’
For most people going about their normal day, however, plain water is all that is required to stay hydrated.
And rather than relying on drinks and supplements for potassium, calcium and magnesium, Professor Davies says these minerals are better obtained through a varied diet rich in fruits and vegetables, beans, nuts and seeds.
He says: ‘There is simply no argument for taking electrolyte drinks on a daily basis.
‘A lot of people slosh them back as a health enhancer – but there’s no evidence they have any benefit to health at all. The best you can say is that for most people these drinks won’t do any harm – as long as they have a good enough kidney function to deal with them.’
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Waitrose has recalled batches of its Essential pitted black olives amid concerns the tubs could be contaminated with potentially deadly bacteria.
The premium supermarket said the olives may cause illness if consumed and urged customers not to eat them.
Food safety officials said Listeria monocytogenes ‘has been found in the product’.
Consuming the bacteria can trigger the infection listeriosis, which may lead to life-threatening complications such as sepsis or meningitis.
Symptoms can be similar to the flu, including a high temperature, muscle aches or pain, chills, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.
However, in rare cases the infection can be more severe, causing serious complications such as meningitis.
The recall affects 120g packs of Waitrose Essential Pitted Black Olives, with use by dates of 13, 18 and September 27, 2026.
In a notice issued by the Food Standards Agency (FSA), Waitrose warned customers not to consume the olives – due to the potential presence of listeria.

Waitrose is recalling its black pitted olives amid fears they are contaminated with potentially deadly listeria
Instead affected products should be returned to your local Waitrose & Partners branch for a refund.
The supermarket apologised for any inconvenience caused.
Point-of-sale notices are being displayed in stores to alert customers to the recall.
Customers can also contact Waitrose Customer Care on 0800 188 884 (option four) for further information.
The FSA said recalls are issued when a product should not be sold because it may pose a risk to consumers.
Earlier this week, Sainsbury’s pulled its Inspired to Cook Pitted Black Olives from its shelves, over fears they may be contaminated with the same dangerous bacteria.
Some people, including those over 65, pregnant women, newborn babies, and people with weakened immune systems are more vulnerable to listeria infections.
When the infection spreads to the bloodstream and brain it can trigger sepsis or meningitis.
The bacteria is usually killed during pasteurisation, meaning it is commonly associated with raw dairy products as well as ready-to-eat foods such as deli meats, smoked fish and pre-packaged sandwiches.
Many foods can harbour the organism and contaminated produce may not look or smell spoiled.
UK Health Security Agency figures show 179 cases of listeriosis reported in England and Wales in 2024, with 28 deaths recorded among non-pregnancy-related cases.

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