Dirty soda drinks are everywhere, but doctors warn of health risks: 'Metabolic disaster'

The latest beverage trend is far from clean – and it’s raising red flags with doctors.

Known as a "dirty soda," it’s a soft drink that also includes a combination of added ingredients, such as flavored syrups, creamers, fruit juices and other garnishes. The result is a sweet beverage that’s a combination of a soda, mocktail and dessert.

Dirty sodas can easily deliver 250-400 calories and 55-70 grams of sugar in a single drink – which is often more than double the American Heart Association’s daily added sugar limit, according to Erin Palinski-Wade, a New Jersey-based registered dietitian.

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"It’s more like a dessert beverage than a soft drink, even if people use diet soda as the base," she told Fox News Digital.

The drinks are most dangerous for those with insulin resistance, prediabetes or diabetes, Palinski-Wade warned.

"The combination of rapidly absorbed sugar plus cream can cause sharp blood sugar spikes and crashes, driving hunger, fatigue and higher insulin demands," she cautioned.

The trend is said to have originated in Utah years ago at a specialty soda shop, Swig, reportedly due to people in the Mormon faith seeking an alternative to coffee. The drink was then popularized by social media and TV shows, such as "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives," according to Eater.com.

The dirty soda trend is widely credited to Swig, a Utah-based soda shop founded in 2010. The concept reportedly gained popularity in Utah, where many members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints abstain from coffee and alcohol, helping create demand for customizable, non-alcoholic drinks.

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"There are multiple soda shops in most suburbs here," one Utah resident wrote on Reddit. "I have many coworkers who stop at one daily on their way to work [because] they don’t drink coffee, but will drink dirty sodas."

Dirty sodas have recently grown in popularity, appearing on many restaurant menus and grocery store shelves. Coca-Cola has launched its Coca-Cola Cherry Float, which is designed to mimic the soda-and-cream experience, while PepsiCo offers a Dirty Mountain Dew Cream Soda.

McDonald’s, Taco Bell, Sonic and Dunkin are among the fast-food brands that include dirty soda options in their beverage line-ups.

Perhaps taking the cake is Crumbl, which recently launched a dirty soda that includes multiple sweet ingredients on top of an already sugary soda base.

"Crumbl needs to be stopped," Dr. Mark Hyman wrote in a recent social media post. "Their new ‘dirty soda’ contains 186 grams of sugar, the equivalent of eating 19 Krispy Kreme donuts. This is a metabolic disaster and should be illegal."

Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News senior medical analyst, echoed the warnings about dirty sodas being "very unhealthy."

"They are loaded with processed sugar, empty calories and saturated fats," he told Fox News Digital. "They are also highly addictive, especially because of the high sugar content, and are about 400 calories per serving."

Over time, regular consumption of these types of sugary beverages can train the brain to seek repeated dopamine and endorphin releases, Siegel warned. This can increase the risk of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, dementia and other chronic illnesses.

Tanya Freirich, a registered dietitian nutritionist in Charlotte, North Carolina, echoed that daily added sugars increase the risk of obesity, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

"Additionally, the creamy mix-ins featured in dirty sodas are generally high in saturated fat, another nutrient that should be consumed in limited amounts," Freirich told Fox News Digital.

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"If you're looking for a mocktail or fun non-alcoholic beverage, consider using a base of plain seltzer water for a bubbly drink," she recommended. "Even with the same add-ins, your end result will contain considerably less sugar, but still taste sweet."

Kenneth J. Perry, M.D., an emergency physician in Charleston, South Carolina, also noted that dirty sodas represent a continuation of the trend toward highly sugary beverages.

"Their effects are short-lived, prompting individuals to consume excessive amounts," he warned. "This combination of low nutritional value, high sugar content and poor satiety can have significant health implications."

Each additional highly sugary beverage consumed daily increases the risk of developing diabetes, high blood pressure or heart disease, Perry cautioned.

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The World Health Organization recommends limiting free sugars – such as those found in beverages with added sugar – to less than 10% of total daily energy consumption, the doctor noted.

"Beverages with added sugar are one of the most easily modifiable risk factors for various downstream health issues," Perry added.

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For those who do decide to try the dirty soda trend, Palinski-Wade recommends choosing a small size, using a diet soda base and limiting it to a rare treat.

"It really belongs in the same category as a cake or a milkshake – occasionally, and in smaller portions."

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Diabetes drug could slash risk of fatal heart condition in one group, scientists reveal

A diabetes drug could help lower the risk of heart failure in certain patients.

A new study published in Nature Medicine analyzed how SGLT2 inhibitor dapagliflozin, a medication used to treat type 2 diabetes, could help prevent heart failure in people with rare genetic variants linked to cardiomyopathy (a progressive disease of the heart muscle).

Using data from the DECLARE-TIMI 58 trial, researchers from Harvard Medical School, Mass General Brigham and MIT looked at more than 12,000 adults who had type 2 diabetes and increased cardiovascular risk.

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About 121 participants carried inherited gene variants that could raise their chances of developing cardiomyopathy.

After a median 4.2-year follow-up, dapagliflozin was found to lower hospitalization for heart failure more in individuals with the variants than in those without.

While dapagliflozin lowered heart failure hospitalization in both groups, the reduction was about eight times stronger in carriers of the genetic variant.

Among the 82% of carriers without a prior history of heart failure, 12.8% developed heart failure in the placebo group, while no heart-failure events were observed among carriers receiving dapagliflozin.

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Co-lead study author Shinwan Kany, MD, a visiting scientist at the Cardiovascular Research Center with Mass General Brigham Heart and Vascular Institute and the Broad Institute, commented on how these findings could shape preventive care.

"Historically, identifying a genetic variant for cardiomyopathy mostly meant telling a patient they were at high risk and not having a specific preventive therapy to offer," he said in a press release. "These data show we do have tools to lower risk in these individuals."

As this was an analysis of a larger randomized trial, the results require further confirmation, according to experts. The narrow sample size of carriers also poses a limitation.

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"These findings are very encouraging because they suggest we may be entering an era where heart failure prevention becomes more precise and more genetically informed," Andrew Freeman, MD, a cardiologist at National Jewish Health, told Fox News Digital.

Freeman, who was not involved in the study, called the research "important and provocative."

Participants with no history of heart failure who took dapagliflozin were less likely to develop the condition, a finding that "raises the possibility that SGLT2 inhibitors may be especially useful as preventive therapy in genetically high-risk individuals," the doctor said.

"This should be viewed as an exciting hypothesis-generating finding, not yet a practice-changing mandate for all patients with these genetic variants," Freeman cautioned.

SGLT2 inhibitors are already "foundational" cardiovascular and kidney-protective medications, the doctor noted.

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"They reduce heart failure hospitalization across a broad range of patients, including those with diabetes, chronic kidney disease and established heart failure," he said. "What this study adds is the possibility that genetic information may help identify a subgroup of people who derive especially large benefit from early treatment."

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Genetic testing for cardiomyopathy is often used for diagnosis, family screening and risk stratification, Freeman said.

If future clinical trials confirm the findings, cardiologists could eventually use genetic screening to identify high-risk patients, monitor them more closely, and begin treatments such as SGLT2 inhibitors before heart failure symptoms appear, according to the cardiologist.

Heart failure does not always begin when symptoms appear, Freeman noted. In some patients, risk may be present years earlier due to inherited genetics.

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Preventive cardiology could identify high-risk patients earlier, before they develop symptoms such as shortness of breath, fluid retention or the need for hospitalization.

The decision to medicate should always be discussed with a clinician, Freeman advised, especially for those with a personal or family history of cardiovascular events.

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Woman with advanced Alzheimer's regained speech and memories after taking magic mushrooms

A woman with advanced Alzheimer’s disease saw significant improvements in brain function after taking psilocybin-containing mushrooms.

That’s according to a case report recently published in Frontiers in Neuroscience, which focused on an elderly woman who had been living with Alzheimer's disease for about 10 years. 

The Japanese-American woman, whose name was not shared, had experienced severe functional decline for roughly five years. The Brazilian study authors described her as having advanced dementia, with very limited speech or communication, severe cognitive impairment, urinary incontinence and reduced mobility.

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She also depended on caregivers for assistance with daily living activities.

The woman received two sessions of psilocybin-containing mushrooms. The first was a 5-gram oral dose, followed by a 3-gram oral dose a month later.

After the first dose, she experienced profuse sweating and hyperthermia, followed by a prolonged sleep-like state.

Approximately 19 hours later, the patient "spontaneously initiated autobiographical conversation lasting several hours," the researchers wrote.

Over the following days and weeks, the woman experienced restored urinary continence, was able to walk independently and dress herself, and engaged in spontaneous conversation. She was also able to retrieve contextual memories, showed the ability to express emotions, and maintained eye contact — smiling with others.

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After the second session, the authors reported that the woman had even greater speech capabilities, more facial expressions and humor, increased walking agility and continued continence.

Beyond the heavy sweating, hyperthermia and sleep-like state, the patient did not experience severe or persistent adverse effects, the researchers noted.

Although the reported benefits lasted for at least one month, the paper does not provide longer-term follow-up.

The authors said the findings should be interpreted with caution, as they are based on a single patient.

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The case also included no control group, standardized cognitive assessments, brain imaging biomarkers, electrophysiological monitoring or sleep studies, they noted.

The patient’s Alzheimer's diagnosis was not confirmed with modern biomarkers, and other neurodegenerative conditions could not be completely ruled out, the study stated.

As the patient may have experienced natural fluctuations in her medical condition, the study could not establish that psilocybin directly caused the woman’s improvements.

While the study suggests that psilocybin-containing mushrooms could temporarily reactivate brain function in people with late-stage dementia, the authors noted that controlled clinical trials, cognitive assessments, imaging scans and other tests are needed to confirm the findings.

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"Much more research is needed in larger, more representative study populations before any conclusions can be drawn about psilocybin’s safety and effectiveness in people living with Alzheimer’s or any other disease that causes dementia," Courtney Kloske, Ph.D., director of scientific engagement at the Alzheimer’s Association in Chicago, told Fox News Digital.

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Kloske, who was not involved in the study, emphasized that people living with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers should talk with their doctor about all medications, vitamins, supplements and other substances they are taking.

"This helps healthcare providers understand how these products may interact with approved Alzheimer’s medications and other therapies to determine whether they could lead to unwanted side effects," she advised.

Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News senior medical analyst, said he is "dubious" of the significance of the study because the effect was described as temporary and was limited to one case.

"Also, there is a built-in danger of giving a hallucinogen to someone with this degree of mental impairment, because the behavioral effects are largely unpredictable and can be harmful," Siegel, who also was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital.

"Having said that, I am not surprised to see that psilocybin could temporarily overcome or alter the gummed-up [brain] circuitry (with plaques) of advanced Alzheimer’s disease – so it might have some value in a carefully controlled setting."

The findings come as several states have expanded legal access to psilocybin. (The substance remains federally illegal in the U.S. as a Schedule I substance.)

Oregon began licensing psilocybin service centers in 2023, Colorado's regulated natural medicine program became operational in 2025, and New Mexico enacted a Medical Psilocybin Act in 2025, according to state officials.

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Still, there are currently no FDA-approved psilocybin treatments for Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, and legal access remains limited to certain state-regulated programs or approved research settings.

Fox News Digital reached out to the researchers for comment.

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Why do some people get sepsis while others don't? Scientists point to the gut

Potentially deadly sepsis may be more likely in certain patients due to problems in the gut.

Researchers from the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology's Infectious Disease Research Center used female mouse models to investigate why sepsis outcomes can vary so dramatically.

The study, published in the journal Nature, looked at genetically similar mice with different gut microbiomes. The mice were infected with Acinetobacter baumannii — a highly resilient bacterium that can lead to sepsis.

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The researchers compared groups of mice with higher and lower survival rates, examining differences in their gut microbiomes, the amount of bacteria in their blood and organs, and other cellular markers, according to the study press release.

Although some mice were genetically similar, the more vulnerable mice had a higher concentration of Muribaculaceae bacteria in the gut. In one comparison, these bacteria made up about 28% of the microbiome in poor surviving mice, but only 0.15% in better surviving mice.

Mice with worse survival showed an early and strong inflammatory response, which later led to more bacteria in the blood, lungs and spleen. This suggests that the microbiome causes the immune system to be more reactive, according to the researchers.

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In the microbiome of mice with worse survival, the researchers also noticed that one strain of bacteria — Sangeribacter muris KT1-3 — was most prominent. The mice that typically survived at high rates fared much worse when housed with KTI-3 mice, with their survival falling to 10%.

This bacterial strain also appeared to worsen inflammation during certain infections, making sepsis more severe.

These findings suggest that the gut microbiome can signal how the immune system will react before an infection begins.

Andrew Fleming, MD, section chief of Infectious Diseases & Immunology at NYU Langone Hospital, Brooklyn, said it has been "known for years" that gut bacteria and bacterial toxins can be released into the bloodstream during sepsis.

This worsens the inflammatory response to the initial infection, according to Fleming, who was not involved in the study.

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"This process is particularly important in septic shock, where the intestinal wall becomes more permeable to translocation (or leaking) of bacterial products," Fleming said.

Interactions between the gut microbiome and the immune system are "complex and variable from person to person," the doctor described.

"But there is mounting evidence that a diverse and healthy gut microbiome – the community of bacteria that lives in a person's gut – is protective in some ways against severe sepsis," he went on. "And a dysregulated microbiome – for example, one severely altered by antibiotics – can impair or worsen the immune system's response during sepsis."

Scientists are starting to think of the gut microbiome "almost as a living organ," according to Fleming, much like the heart, kidneys or liver, all serving "multiple functions" to keep the body healthy.

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An unhealthy microbiome can have "detrimental effects across a range of health issues," he added – including how the body responds to infections.

"Compared to our other organs, we currently have fewer readily available tests in the doctor's office to measure the health of our microbiome," Fleming said. "However, this should not prevent us from thinking about our gut microbiome and how to keep it healthy."

The use of antibiotics has "major and long-lasting effects" on the microbiome, Fleming noted. Up to 80% of adults in the U.S. are prescribed an antibiotic every year, while 30% are estimated to be unnecessary, according to the CDC.

"Antibiotics deplete the diversity of the microbiome and create a void in the gut microbial community that can be filled by harmful bacteria from the environment," the doctor told Fox News Digital.

"We must begin to think much more critically about our antibiotic use and overuse, both to maintain our gut health and to reduce the spread of antibiotic resistance."

The study findings are an "intriguing starting point to further research," Fleming said, although there were some key limitations.

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"Sangeribacter muris is not typically found in humans, so the exact mechanism of this bacterial strain worsening sepsis that is demonstrated in this study cannot be directly extrapolated to people," he said. "Well-designed clinical trials should be conducted to explore how similar gut microbiome effects may play out in sepsis in humans."

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Despite these limitations, the doctor said he supports the hypothesis that maintaining a healthy gut microbiome can help keep the immune system well-regulated while reducing the risk of developing severe sepsis.

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Study reveals hidden gut factor that may make some people more susceptible to sepsis

Potentially deadly sepsis may be more likely in certain patients due to problems in the gut.

Researchers from the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology's Infectious Disease Research Center used female mouse models to investigate why sepsis outcomes can vary so dramatically.

The study, published in the journal Nature, looked at genetically similar mice with different gut microbiomes. The mice were infected with Acinetobacter baumannii — a highly resilient bacterium that can lead to sepsis.

ER DOCTOR REVEALS HOW PNEUMONIA CAN SUDDENLY TURN DEADLY AFTER KYLE BUSCH'S DEATH

The researchers compared groups of mice with higher and lower survival rates, examining differences in their gut microbiomes, the amount of bacteria in their blood and organs, and other cellular markers, according to the study press release.

Although some mice were genetically similar, the more vulnerable mice had a higher concentration of Muribaculaceae bacteria in the gut. In one comparison, these bacteria made up about 28% of the microbiome in poor surviving mice, but only 0.15% in better surviving mice.

Mice with worse survival showed an early and strong inflammatory response, which later led to more bacteria in the blood, lungs and spleen. This suggests that the microbiome causes the immune system to be more reactive, according to the researchers.

GUT MICROBES COULD BE KEY TO FIGHTING TOXIC, LONG-LASTING 'FOREVER CHEMICALS,' RESEARCH SAYS

In the microbiome of mice with worse survival, the researchers also noticed that one strain of bacteria — Sangeribacter muris KT1-3 — was most prominent. The mice that typically survived at high rates fared much worse when housed with KTI-3 mice, with their survival falling to 10%.

This bacterial strain also appeared to worsen inflammation during certain infections, making sepsis more severe.

These findings suggest that the gut microbiome can signal how the immune system will react before an infection begins.

Andrew Fleming, MD, section chief of Infectious Diseases & Immunology at NYU Langone Hospital, Brooklyn, said it has been "known for years" that gut bacteria and bacterial toxins can be released into the bloodstream during sepsis.

This worsens the inflammatory response to the initial infection, according to Fleming, who was not involved in the study.

5 GUT-BOOSTING FRUITS TO EAT MORE OF IN 2026 FOR BETTER DIGESTION, EXPERTS SAY

"This process is particularly important in septic shock, where the intestinal wall becomes more permeable to translocation (or leaking) of bacterial products," Fleming said.

Interactions between the gut microbiome and the immune system are "complex and variable from person to person," the doctor described.

"But there is mounting evidence that a diverse and healthy gut microbiome – the community of bacteria that lives in a person's gut – is protective in some ways against severe sepsis," he went on. "And a dysregulated microbiome – for example, one severely altered by antibiotics – can impair or worsen the immune system's response during sepsis."

Scientists are starting to think of the gut microbiome "almost as a living organ," according to Fleming, much like the heart, kidneys or liver, all serving "multiple functions" to keep the body healthy.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES

An unhealthy microbiome can have "detrimental effects across a range of health issues," he added – including how the body responds to infections.

"Compared to our other organs, we currently have fewer readily available tests in the doctor's office to measure the health of our microbiome," Fleming said. "However, this should not prevent us from thinking about our gut microbiome and how to keep it healthy."

The use of antibiotics has "major and long-lasting effects" on the microbiome, Fleming noted. Up to 80% of adults in the U.S. are prescribed an antibiotic every year, while 30% are estimated to be unnecessary, according to the CDC.

"Antibiotics deplete the diversity of the microbiome and create a void in the gut microbial community that can be filled by harmful bacteria from the environment," the doctor told Fox News Digital.

"We must begin to think much more critically about our antibiotic use and overuse, both to maintain our gut health and to reduce the spread of antibiotic resistance."

The study findings are an "intriguing starting point to further research," Fleming said, although there were some key limitations.

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"Sangeribacter muris is not typically found in humans, so the exact mechanism of this bacterial strain worsening sepsis that is demonstrated in this study cannot be directly extrapolated to people," he said. "Well-designed clinical trials should be conducted to explore how similar gut microbiome effects may play out in sepsis in humans."

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Despite these limitations, the doctor said he supports the hypothesis that maintaining a healthy gut microbiome can help keep the immune system well-regulated while reducing the risk of developing severe sepsis.

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This exercise habit may slash dementia risk and help you live longer, study finds

People who incorporate strength training into their weekly routines may be more likely to live longer, according to a new study.

Researchers from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health analyzed data from 147,374 adults and found that people who engaged in moderate amounts of resistance training had a lower risk of dying from several major causes, including heart disease and neurological disease.

The findings were published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

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People who performed between 90 and 119 minutes of resistance training per week had a 13% lower risk of death from any cause compared to those who did no strength training.

The same group also experienced a 19% lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease and a 27% lower risk of death from neurological diseases, most of which were related to dementia.

Researchers found that the greatest benefit occurred when resistance training was combined with aerobic exercise.

Adults who regularly participated in both forms of exercise had up to a 45% lower risk of death than those who did little aerobic activity and no resistance training.

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However, more exercise was not necessarily better.

The study found no additional reduction in mortality risk beyond about 120 minutes of resistance training per week.

The research followed participants for up to 30 years and repeatedly tracked their exercise habits over time, giving researchers a more complete picture of long-term behavior.

Josephine Hunt, an educational leader, former group fitness instructor and founder of The Resilience Revolution based in New Jersey, who was not involved in the study, said the findings support a growing body of research linking strength training to healthy aging.

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"The conversation about longevity often focuses on living longer, but I believe the more important goal is maintaining the strength, mobility, independence, and vitality to fully participate in life as we age," Hunt told Fox News Digital.

Hunt said resistance training helps preserve muscle mass and bone density, improves balance and supports overall physical function as people get older.

For women, she noted, strength training becomes especially important after menopause, when muscle mass and bone density can decline more rapidly.

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"Resistance training is not about bodybuilding, appearance, or achieving a certain physique," Hunt said.

"It is about preserving the ability to live life on your own terms."

She added that strength training can help people remain independent, recover from illness or injury, travel more easily and stay active later in life.

Researchers noted that the study has limitations.

While the findings suggest a connection between strength training and a lower risk of death, the study cannot prove that lifting weights was the reason participants lived longer.

The study also relied on self-reported exercise habits and primarily included white, middle-aged and older health professionals, which may limit how broadly the findings apply to the general population.

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Scientists reveal surprising brain benefit of laughter: 'It's a mental workout'

The old saying that laughter is the best medicine may be true, according to new research that suggests it is also a vital catalyst for children's development.

Laughter and play are fundamental to healthy brain growth, emotional well-being and social bonding, according to Jacqueline Harding, Ph.D., an early childhood expert at Middlesex University in London.

In her book, "The Brain That Loves to Laugh," Harding argues that joy is a complex biological phenomenon that helps children navigate stress and build more resilient, receptive minds, news agency SWNS reported.

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"When we see children laugh, we witness the brilliance of the brain in action: learning, connecting and growing," Harding told SWNS.

"Hope and humor, it seems, are not just the seasoning of life, but foundational to a recipe for healthy development."

Laughter activates broad brain networks, including motor regions and the prefrontal cortex, long before children learn to speak. By helping the brain resolve conflicting ideas, it boosts creativity and engages working memory, acting as a "mental workout," experts say.

At a molecular level, laughter alters the internal chemistry by decreasing stress hormones like cortisol and epinephrine. It also increases "happiness chemicals" like dopamine, serotonin and endorphins.

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Additionally, laughter is known to boost oxytocin, which deepens emotional bonds between parents and children.

Prolonged stress does the exact opposite: It impairs learning, suppresses immune function and alters the developing limbic system, which governs emotion and long-term memory, according to SWNS.

"Stated simply, the emotional state of young children directly influences how they navigate their way through the world," Harding said.

Parents can foster these benefits through moments of spontaneous play and joyful connection, the expert advised.

These interactions do more than spark laughter — they help children develop emotional regulation, strengthen feelings of safety and connection, and support social and cognitive development, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

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"Spontaneous, joyful play is an antidote to stress, as it increases levels of endorphins released by the brain," Harding said. "Creative, happy play does its most brilliant work at a molecular level, especially at a time when the human brain is at its most receptive."

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This shared joy also establishes "co-regulation," where a child learns to manage their own stress by drawing on a biological store of positive early experiences.

Harding advocates for integrating humor directly into classrooms to reduce cognitive load and improve how children retain key concepts. 

By uplifting the nervous system, joy creates an optimal environment for information absorption, as the SWNS piece noted.

"Safe relationships and non-stressful play environments promote learning," she added. 

"The curriculum must never be prioritized over those two fundamental factors."

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