Does Therapy Fuel Family Estrangement? Researchers and a Connecticut Mother Weigh In
Researchers and a Connecticut mother estranged from her adult daughter say some therapists may be fueling family cutoffs by treating value differences as abuse, though other experts say therapy’s effects vary widely case by case.
South Carolina Dietitian Weighs In on The Rock’s 70-Gram Protein Smoothie
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s 70-gram-protein post-workout smoothie is well-suited to his size and calorie goals, but a South Carolina dietitian says the creatine dose may be too much for smaller or less active people.
Tofu Tops New Ranking That Scores Protein Foods on Health and Environmental Cost
A new BPI Score rates 20 protein foods on nutrition and environmental impact, and tofu came out ahead of beef, salmon and eggs — though nutrition experts say the ranking shouldn’t replace thinking about serving size and individual needs.
Fewer Americans Are Hosting Guests at Home, and Experts Say They Know Why
A new analysis finds the share of Americans hosting guests at home has dropped sharply since the 1990s, with experts citing busy schedules, shrinking friendships, rising costs and streaming entertainment as key causes.
Lung Cancer Survivor Says Pope Leo’s Diagnosis Offers Hope, Points to Screening Gaps
A lung cancer survivor says Pope Leo’s diagnosis, caught early during a routine checkup, mirrors her own experience and should prompt a rethink of who qualifies for lung cancer screening in the U.S.
Pope Leo’s Lung Cancer Diagnosis Puts Spotlight on Tampa Cancer Specialist’s Warnings for Nonsmokers
Pope Leo XIV’s lung cancer diagnosis, following surgery to remove part of his right lung, has prompted a Tampa oncologist to explain why the disease also strikes people who have never smoked.
Doctors Warn Against Acting Out ‘Wicker’ Movie Fantasies With Real Wicker Furniture
An OB-GYN is warning fans of the new movie “Wicker” not to act out fantasies involving real wicker furniture, citing risks of injury and infection.
Italian Study Finds Erectile Dysfunction Drug May Help Muscle Cells Regenerate
A laboratory study by researchers at the University of Rome Foro Italico found that tadalafil, the active ingredient in Cialis, helped mouse muscle precursor cells grow and survive, though experts caution it is far too early to say the drug builds muscle in humans.
Newsom Backs New Health Plan Tax as Medi-Cal Financing Faces Federal Squeeze
California is backing a redesigned tax on private health plans to protect Medi-Cal funding after federal rule changes, a move that has united doctors and insurers in a lawsuit and could raise premiums for privately insured residents.
Starbucks Sued Over ‘Sugar-Free’ Protein Drinks That Contain Up to 21 Grams of Sugar
A proposed class-action lawsuit filed in Washington state alleges that several Starbucks drinks marketed as ‘sugar-free’ actually contain up to 21 grams of sugar, while Starbucks says the sugar comes naturally from milk, not added ingredients.
University of Liverpool study finds diet drinks match water for weight loss over two years
A two-year University of Liverpool trial found diet drinks sweetened with substitutes like aspartame and sucralose supported weight loss just as effectively as water, though experts caution the structured diet programme participants followed played a key role.
WHO Says No Sign of Plague Spread From Irkutsk Lab Incident, But Wants More Answers From Moscow
The WHO says it has seen no sign of plague spreading after a suspected lab leak in Irkutsk, but its assessment depends heavily on information from Russian authorities, who it says have not been fully forthcoming.
Dr. Drew Warns That Smartphones Fuel Gambling and Sex Addiction Like a ‘Crack Pipe’
Dr. Drew Pinsky warned on Sean Hannity’s podcast that smartphones give people constant access to addictive behaviors like gambling and sex, as new research shows heavy drinking has spiked among adults aged 50 to 64.
AI Billing Tools Added Nearly $1 Billion to Hospital Costs, Blue Cross Says
A Blue Cross Blue Shield Association analysis found AI-assisted medical coding added nearly $1 billion in costs for its health plans between 2023 and 2025, with most of the increase tied to diagnoses that didn’t change patient treatment.
House Republicans Roll Out 14 Bills to Fight Medicaid Fraud After Report Finds Up to $521 Billion Lost Yearly
House Republicans have introduced 14 bills to fight Medicaid fraud after a report found that up to $521 billion in taxpayer dollars is lost annually across federal programs; California and New York are flagged as facing especially fast-growing Medicaid costs.
Bipartisan Lawmakers Push CMS to Drop Cancer Drug Pricing Proposal
More than 50 lawmakers from both parties are asking CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz to drop a proposed Medicare policy they say would push improved cancer treatments into price negotiations too quickly, discouraging drugmakers from developing them.
California Health Agency Seeks Contractor to Run Transgender Equity Grant Programs, Exempt From Public Records Law
California’s HCAI is soliciting private organizations to administer state transgender equity grant programs, with a provision exempting applications from public records disclosure.
Billy Gardell Says 2021 Weight Loss Surgery Likely Saved His Life
Actor Billy Gardell says his 2021 bariatric surgery, prompted by Type 2 diabetes, cholesterol and heart problems, likely saved his life and has left him medication-free.
Small Spanish Study Links Daily Tomato Paste to Sharper Focus and Faster Thinking
A small Spanish study found adults who ate about two tablespoons of tomato paste daily for three months scored higher on tests of attention and processing speed than when they avoided lycopene-rich foods, though researchers call the findings preliminary.
UCLA Neurologist Offers a Simple Way to Tell Menopause Brain Fog From Dementia
A UCLA neurologist says women worried about memory lapses during menopause should compare their current thinking to how they felt 10 years ago to help distinguish hormonal brain fog from early dementia.
Tampa Woman’s Death Confirmed as Florida’s First Dengue Fatality of 2026
Gay Small of Hillsborough County died Sept. 4 from dengue complications, marking Florida’s first confirmed dengue death of 2026 and the first in the Tampa Bay area in nearly a century, as local health officials warn of an unprecedented outbreak.
NYU Langone and UPMC to End Pediatric Gender Treatments Under DOJ Settlements
NYU Langone Hospitals and UPMC have agreed to stop providing puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones and related surgeries to minors, paying $8.5 million and $950,000 respectively to settle Justice Department investigations.
Kim Kardashian Reveals Esophagitis Diagnosis, Recalls Father’s Cancer Death
Kim Kardashian revealed she has been diagnosed with esophagitis, an inflammation of the esophagus, drawing an emotional on-camera comparison to her father Robert Kardashian Sr.’s death from esophageal cancer in 2003 — though experts say the two conditions are distinct.
Plastic Surgeon Says There’s a Right and Wrong Time to Get a Facelift
Celebrity plastic surgeon Dr. Terry Dubrow warns that getting a facelift too early, often inspired by celebrities like Kris Jenner, or delaying one too long with nonsurgical treatments can both lead to unnatural results.