No sex for 10 weeks? Championship team's playoff strategy raises eyebrows

No sex for the win? This was the advice given to this year’s NBA champions.

New York Knicks owner James Dolan addressed the now-champs as they headed into the playoffs in April 2026, acknowledging their high potential to eventually win the championship.

"I don’t know if you understand what it would mean for you to win a championship this year … It would be life-changing," he said. "It will stick with you the rest of your lives, and if you don’t win, you’ll be thinking about it the rest of your lives."

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As Dolan’s inspirational speech to the team went on, he explained how the next 10 weeks would require each player to make sacrifices – watching their diets, getting proper sleep and perhaps even abstaining from sex.

"You need sacrifice and you need to eliminate all the distractions around you," he said.

"I had this idea that maybe you should give up sex for the next 10 weeks," the owner said. "You don't have to give up sex for the next 10 weeks – but, like the Spartans … They denied themselves, so that they can have an edge. Get the edge."

This received a few snickers from the team, and Dolan responded, "Don’t tell [your wives and girlfriends] you’re not going to have sex and don’t tell them it was my idea. But let them know what this is going to be like … and how they’re going to have to sacrifice, too."

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Dr. Anna Elton, licensed marriage and family therapist and clinical sexologist in Massachusetts, confirmed that this belief has been around for centuries, dating back to the ancients Spartans and early Olympic competitors.

Avoiding sex can preserve energy, increase aggression and sharpen focus, according to Elton.

But modern research has found little evidence that consensual sexual activity negatively impacts strength, endurance, reaction time or athletic performance when it occurs at least 10 hours before competition, the doctor countered.

However, "activity very close to competition may affect recovery measures," she added. What may be more important, according to Elton, is the psychological value of abstinence.

"Choosing to abstain can reinforce discipline and total commitment to a larger goal," she said. "In those cases, the advantage may come more from mindset and focus than from any physical effect."

"Whether the sacrifice is alcohol, social activities, favorite foods or sex, the message is often the same: ‘We are all in.'"

This discussion has historically focused on men, which Elton said is often based on "misconceptions about testosterone and energy depletion."

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"Research has not demonstrated that normal sexual activity causes a meaningful decline in athletic performance, and concerns about testosterone depletion have not been consistently supported by the evidence," she said.

"For women, sexual activity may have additional benefits related to stress reduction, emotional regulation and relationship satisfaction."

In a separate interview with Fox News Digital, Dr. Anthony Puopolo, a men's health expert and lead medical provider for RexMD, echoed Elton's assessment that research largely does not support abstinence as a performance enhancer.

This is despite a small amount of evidence that suggests engaging in sexual activity within two hours of competition could pose a risk to cardiovascular recovery.

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"Unfortunately, nearly all studies (99%) have been conducted in males aged 20 to 40, so there is virtually no data on female athletes, older athletes or diverse populations," said the Puerto Rico-based expert. "We know what to tell the Knicks, but we are not sure what to recommend for the New York Liberty."

Elton said abstinence may still offer psychological benefits for some competitors. "For some athletes, it can become part of a pre-competition ritual that enhances confidence," she told Fox News Digital.

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Some other potential benefits of sexual activity include stress reduction, improved sleep, mood enhancement, emotional connection with a partner and relief from performance-related tension.

"Strong, supportive relationships are associated with better psychological resilience, which can be valuable during high-pressure competitions," Elton said.

"Ultimately, there is no universal rule," she went on. "What helps one athlete perform at their best may not help another."

Elton stressed that sleep, recovery, nutrition, stress management and support from loved ones are universal performance boosters.

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"Athletes devote tremendous attention to training their bodies, while overlooking the importance of their personal relationships," she cautioned. "A supportive partner can be one of the greatest assets during a demanding season."

"If competition requires temporary sacrifices, make those decisions together and keep communication open."

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Zero sugar, more problems? Study reveals surprising gut health effects

Eliminating sugar from your diet may seem like the key to healthy eating, but research suggests it could have unintended effects on digestive health.

A study presented at ENDO 2026, the Endocrine Society's annual meeting, suggests that a total lack of sucrose, or table sugar, may harm gut health and disrupt the body's natural metabolism.

To explore how the total absence of dietary sugar impacts the body, researchers at the Dasman Diabetes Institute in Kuwait City conducted a 16-week study on two groups of mice. Both groups were placed on a low-fat diet, but with one critical difference.

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One group consumed a low-fat diet that included a standard amount of sucrose, while the other group ate a low-fat diet that was completely sugar-free, according to the study's press release.

Throughout the trial, the scientists monitored a wide variety of physiological factors, including the animals' weight, glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, hormone levels, internal inflammation and the specific composition of their gut bacteria.

The study outcome suggested that completely removing sugar caused several unexpected health problems.

"Completely removing sucrose from a low-fat diet may unexpectedly disrupt gut health and promote inflammation and metabolic dysfunction," Rasheed Ahmad, principal scientist and head of the Immunology & Microbiology Department at the Dasman Diabetes Institute, said in the release.

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Even though the mice on the sugar-free diet did not gain any extra weight compared to the control group, their internal health indicators deteriorated.

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The animals that lacked sucrose developed an imbalance in their gut microbes and increased inflammation within the intestines and liver.

They also showed signs of poor glucose regulation, insulin resistance and cellular changes associated with fatty liver disease, according to the research.

"The findings suggest that complete removal of sucrose from a low-fat diet may negatively affect gut microbiota and metabolic health," Ahmad concluded.

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While the risks of high-sugar diets are well-established, the researchers noted that little attention has been given to the effects of completely eliminating sugar from low-fat meals.

Scientists say these new findings highlight that dietary carbohydrates play a valuable role in supporting balance between the immune system and the gut microbiome.

Because this research was conducted on mice over a relatively short 16-week period, further clinical trials are necessary to determine whether a completely sugar-free diet causes the same gut and liver inflammation in humans.

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Additionally, the study focused specifically on removing sucrose from low-fat meals, meaning the results might not apply to people eliminating sugar while following higher-fat or ketogenic eating plans, the researchers noted.

The team believes that future dietary guidelines may shift away from strict, absolute sugar restrictions and instead place a greater emphasis on maintaining a diverse, healthy population of gut bacteria through balanced nutrition.

"In the long term, these findings could help improve strategies for preventing and managing metabolic disorders, fatty liver disease and chronic inflammatory conditions," Ahmad said.

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Cure for certain cancers is ‘realistic’ goal in next decade, pharma lead says

A cure for cancer could be on the horizon in the next decade, according to experts.

During the WSJ Leadership Institute CEO Summit in London last week, Johnson & Johnson Chairman and CEO Joaquin Duato reflected on the pharmaceutical company’s projections on the future of cancer treatment.

In the next 10 years, the goal is to "try to eliminate cancer," Duato shared.

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"That’s a high goal, and we are already making significant progress in certain cancers," he said.

Duato used multiple myeloma as an example, noting that the life expectancy is currently 10 years, when it was previously "only single years."

"We have treatments now that utilize your own immune system to attack the cancer," he said at the summit. "For patients who were already going into hospice, so they didn’t have any other alternative, they are [at] more than five years, with a single administration, in remission. That [is] spectacular."

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"When patients see that, they cannot believe that because they have been coming to the hospital every week [for] a decade, having multiple therapies."

According to Duato, Johnson & Johnson is working to understand the biology of cancer growth and to formulate new technologies to address it.

"It’s realistic to believe that we are going to cure certain cancers, and some others we’re going to turn into chronic diseases," he predicted.

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"Cancer is an important thing – I cannot think about anybody who has not been touched by cancer," he went on. "But there are many other opportunities for us to actually advance science, to address very important social problems."

Duato called out dementia as another "important problem" in need of a solution.

He predicted that life expectancy, which has risen steadily over the past century, will continue to increase as longevity technologies and solutions advance, improving quality of life along the way.

Duato commented that J&J has been optimistic about the role artificial intelligence will play in the future of healthcare, calling it a "force multiplier."

Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel agreed with Duato's outlook on the future of cancer care, noting that certain cancers will turn into chronic diseases while others will find outright cures.

"Advances [will be] based on the use of AI to help guide targeted treatments with expanding knowledge of cancer mutations and how to target them," he predicted, speaking to Fox News Digital.

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Siegel added that biomarkers and AI can help with earlier diagnoses, as well as a more advanced and personalized approach to surgery.

J&J recently acquired Firefly Bio, a biotech firm that produces drugs that enter cancer cells to "target certain proteins that contain difficult to treat gene mutations," the doctor added.

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Ozempic users may be making a major weight-loss mistake, new study suggests

Among those taking GLP-1 medications for weight loss, exercise rates are decreasing, according to new research.

The study, set to be presented at ENDO 2026 (the Endocrine Society's annual meeting) in Chicago this week, found that adults with obesity who lost weight with a GLP-1, such as Ozempic or Wegovy, "significantly reduced" their physical activity.

In an Endocrine Society press release, study lead Sajana Maharjan, MD, of HSHS St. John's Hospital in Springfield, Illinois, noted that GLP-1 drugs like semaglutide, liraglutide, dulaglutide and tirzepatide reduce both fat and lean muscle mass.

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This means physical activity is "essential for preserving strength and long-term health," she said.

The study, reportedly the first of its kind, considered data from a National Institutes of Health research program that linked participant records with fitness tracker activity.

Researchers analyzed data from 753 people with obesity who initiated a GLP-1 medication. The cohort was mostly female, at a mean age of 52.7 years.

Comparing activity in participants before and after beginning treatment, the average number of steps decreased from 5,047 to 4,487 per day. Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity fell from 28 to 22 minutes per day, the study found.

The largest declines were observed in men and in those with joint or muscle pain. Other factors like age, heart failure or prior stroke did not change results.

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Although many people might assume that losing weight with these medications would lead to increased physical activity, the study found no evidence that it did, according to Maharjan.

"The findings in our study reinforce that exercise cannot be optional for people taking these medications," he said. "People need targeted interventions that encourage physical activity alongside medication for obesity."

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The study was retrospective and observational, meaning it could only display an association, not a direct cause. The participants were also mostly middle-aged women, which could limit the scope of who is most impacted, the researchers noted.

Other factors that were not measured include exercise habits before starting treatment, motivation levels and guidance from a physician.

Dr. Peter Balazs MD, a hormone and weight-loss specialist practicing in New York and New Jersey, echoed in an interview with Fox News Digital that weight loss does not automatically lead to increased mobility or greater motivation to exercise.

"In fact, being in a calorie deficit can cause the body to conserve energy, resulting in a lower metabolic rate," he said.

"Additionally, side effects of weight-loss medications, such as nausea, fatigue or gastrointestinal discomfort, may further reduce a person's ability or desire to be physically active," the expert added.

For GLP-1 users, Balazs stressed that exercise "is not optional." Patients must incorporate resistance training and regular daily movement, like walking, into their routine to "preserve lean muscle mass, maintain metabolic health and support long-term weight management," he advised.

"Exercise plays a critical role during weight loss," Balazs said. "Without adequate physical activity, a significant portion of weight loss may come from muscle rather than fat."

The expert noted that there is not a one-size-fits-all approach, as the timing, intensity and type of workout should be individualized based on a person’s fitness level, health status and body composition.

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"This is particularly important for patients with a high BMI who may have mobility limitations or lower baseline fitness levels," Balazs said. "It's important to consider injury risk, long-term adherence and the potential for early burnout."

Board-certified internist and longevity expert Dr. Amanda Kahn said she disagrees with this study’s conclusions, as they do not reflect what she is seeing in her own clinical practice.

"Weight loss often serves as the impetus that motivates patients to become more physically active and more engaged in their overall health," the New York-based expert told Fox News Digital.

"The success of GLP-1 therapy is directly tied to the expertise of the provider," she went on. "When these medications are prescribed thoughtfully – with attention to nutrition, resistance training, body composition and laboratory monitoring – they can help patients lose weight while becoming healthier, stronger and more motivated to exercise."

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Kahn, a peptide prescriber, does not recommend simply prescribing a GLP-1 medication and allowing the patient to "self-manage."

"In my practice, if a patient is unable to exercise, is not meeting protein goals or shows concerning muscle loss on body composition analysis, I will often hold or adjust the medication – because preserving strength, function and metabolic health is just as important as weight loss," she said.

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If a GLP-1 patient becomes too fatigued to exercise, develops nutritional deficiencies or loses excessive muscle mass, Kahn warned that this reflects a "monitoring problem" rather than a medication problem, as these medications "require close clinical oversight."

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Common vitamin may influence brain aging in ways scientists didn't expect

Higher levels of vitamin C levels were linked to healthier brain structure in older adults, suggesting a potential role for nutrition in brain aging.

That’s according to new research from Japan, published in the journal PLOS ONE.

The observational study included 2,044 participants living in Hirosaki City, Japan, who were originally included in a study exploring dementia and heart disease risk. The average age was 69, and 61% of them were female.

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The researchers measured the participants’ vitamin C levels using blood samples and performed MRI scans to calculate the volume of gray matter and white matter in their brains.

Even after accounting for external factors like age, smoking habits, diabetes and other lifestyle behaviors, they found that those with lower vitamin C levels appeared to have lower brain tissue volumes and weaker structural network patterns.

"Our study demonstrates that older adults with higher blood levels of vitamin C tend to have better-preserved brain structure (gray matter) and stronger connections within the default mode network (DMN), a crucial brain network involved in memory and cognitive function," Tomohiro Shintaku, MD, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Radiology Graduate School of Medicine at Hirosaki University, told Fox News Digital.

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"While diets rich in vitamin C are known to lower the risk of cognitive decline, our study is the very first to demonstrate a direct association between actual blood plasma vitamin C levels and the structural connectivity of the DMN," he added.

This network is often affected by conditions such as Alzheimer's disease and depression, according to the researchers.

The vitamin C measurement was more accurate than studies that relied on dietary estimates, the researchers noted.

"What I found most fascinating is that we could detect such clear associations between a single nutritional factor (vitamin C) and large-scale brain networks in a robust cohort of over 2,000 older adults," Shintaku said. "It highlights how significantly our everyday dietary habits might impact brain structure."

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The study underscores the importance of obtaining vitamin C from the daily diet, as humans cannot synthesize it on their own, the researchers noted.

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"Our findings suggest that maintaining optimal vitamin C levels through a healthy diet — rich in citrus fruits, berries, tomatoes and green leafy vegetables — could be a simple yet powerful way to support brain health as we age," Shintaku said.

The study did have some limitations, the researchers noted. 

"Because our study is observational and cross-sectional, we can only show an association, not a cause-and-effect relationship," Shintaku told Fox News Digital. "Other limitations include relying on a single blood measurement per participant."

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Other external factors, such as dietary intake, body mass index and socioeconomic variables, could have played a role in the outcomes.

Also, the link was relatively modest compared to established risk factors like high blood pressure and blood sugar, the researchers noted.

Findings from other, larger studies, including UK Biobank research with more than 9,000 people, suggest that vitamin C is just one of several factors that may influence brain health.

Because the participants were almost all older Japanese adults, the findings may not be generalized to other populations.

"This study found an association between higher plasma vitamin C levels and MRI markers of brain health, including gray matter volume and connectivity in the default mode network, which is involved in several cognitive functions," Dung Trinh, MD, an internal medicine physician and founder of the Healthy Brain Clinic, commented to Medical News Today.

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"That said, the study does not prove that vitamin C prevents cognitive decline or that taking supplements will improve brain health. It is best viewed as a signal that vitamin C status may be one piece of a much larger brain-health picture."

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Deadly ‘fox tapeworm’ linked to lethal disease detected in West Coast wildlife

A parasitic tapeworm known as Echinococcus multilocularis — often called the "fox tapeworm" — has been detected for the first time in West Coast wildlife. 

University of Washington researchers discovered the tapeworm, which can cause a rare but potentially deadly disease in humans, in 37 out of 100 coyotes sampled near Puget Sound in Washington State. The findings were published in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases earlier this year.

Researchers noted that the presence of the parasite in wildlife does not mean human infections are common, and that the risk to the general public remains low.

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"The reason that [cases are] so high in coyotes is because they are regularly eating raw rodents, and that is the primary way for them to get infected," said lead author Yasmine Hentati, who recently graduated from the UW with a doctorate in environmental and forest science, in a press release.

The study's genetic testing showed the coyotes carried a newer, more infectious European variant that has become the predominant strain in the U.S. and Canada.

Prior to the 2010s, the parasitic tapeworm was extremely rare in North America, with cases largely confined to the remote islands in Alaska, the authors said.

Over the last 15 years, the parasite has expanded its range, with dog and human infections increasing across the Midwestern U.S. and Canada, according to past reports.

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Cases in coyotes have been spreading west from the upper Midwest for several years, and infected animals have been found on the West Coast, according to Dr. Linda Yancey, an infectious disease specialist at Memorial Hermann in the Houston area.

While Eastern Europe has some cases, the infection is very rarely seen in the U.S., Yancey noted.

Most cases of echinococcosis are diagnosed in patients who immigrated from or traveled to Central and East Asia, the Middle East and North Africa.

"Worldwide, the area with the highest prevalence of human infections with the fox tapeworm is western China," Yancey added.

The tapeworm is transmitted among wild animals known as canids — typically cycling from foxes to rodents and back to foxes — and is often referred to as the "fox tapeworm," Yancey told Fox News Digital.

Humans can get sick from accidentally ingesting worm eggs after handling contaminated soil or eating contaminated food. They can also get the infection by handling a pet that has the tapeworm and then touching their mouth, according to Cleveland Clinic.

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The hallmark of the infection is fluid-filled sacs called cysts, which contain thousands of very small, immature tapeworms that develop commonly in the liver but can spread to other parts of the body, according to Cleveland Clinic.

The infection often goes undetected for years, or even decades, because the cysts grow at a very slow rate.

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There are two main types of forms of the illness: cystic echinococcosis and alveolar echinococcosis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

With cystic echinococcosis, cysts often develop in the liver and lungs. The body responds by building a protective wall around them as the cysts continue to grow slowly over years.

Symptoms can include abdominal pain or increased belly size (if it infects the liver) or coughing and shortness of breath (if the lungs are infected). These signs usually do not appear until the cysts grow large enough to press on healthy organs and tissues, according to the CDC.

The infection becomes dangerous when a cyst ruptures — most often due to trauma — and may even lead to death if cyst fluid is released into the body.

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Alveolar echinococcosis is a rarer, more lethal form of the infection. It grows into a tumor-like mass that invades and destroys surrounding tissue, typically in the liver, but can also spread to other parts of the body, including the brain. In severe cases, it can lead to liver failure and death, experts say.

"Symptoms of liver failure include fatigue, yellowing of the skin and eyeballs, and abdominal pain," Yancey cautioned.

This form of the infection can mimic cancer, so it’s important to see a doctor if symptoms are noticed, she added.

While the overall risk of infection is low, simple precautions can further reduce exposure.

"The most important way to protect yourself from the fox tapeworm is also the simplest: good hand hygiene," Yancey advised.

She recommends washing your hands before eating and after you have been outside or have handled soil in areas where the tapeworm is endemic.

"For dog owners, prevent your animals from eating wild rodents and make sure all your pets get routine veterinary care," Yancey added.

The CDC also recommends avoiding contact with wild animals that can carry the tapeworm, such as foxes, coyotes and stray dogs.

"Routine testing and treatment for worms of all kinds keeps your pups healthy and [keeps] you safe," Yancey noted.

Fox News Digital reached out to the lead authors of the study requesting comment.

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One muscle protein may hold the key to staying stronger as you age, study finds

A newly identified muscle protein may help explain why people who stay active as they age often remain stronger and healthier for longer, according to new research.

Scientists found that a protein called NOX4 naturally declines with age and inactivity. As levels dropped, researchers observed signs of frailty, muscle loss, insulin resistance and liver disease in mice.

The findings were published in the journal Science Advances.

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Researchers believe NOX4 helps muscles repair themselves and adapt to the physical demands of exercise.

When NOX4 was removed from the muscles of mice, the animals became weaker, lost muscle mass and developed health problems commonly associated with aging.

The researchers also found that exercise helped restore NOX4 levels in older mice.

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, told Fox News Digital that the findings help explain why exercise benefits so many aspects of health.

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"Movement is medicine," Hunt said.

"The emerging NOX4 research is exciting because it helps explain something exercise scientists have observed for decades. Physical activity does far more than strengthen muscles."

Hunt said many people view exercise as a way to improve appearance or fitness, but its effects reach much deeper.

"Exercise appears to activate biological signaling pathways that help the body adapt, repair and become more resilient over time," she said.

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She said one of the study's biggest takeaways is that physical activity helps the body maintain its ability to recover from challenges.

"Exercise does not simply help us look younger or stay physically fit," Hunt said. "It appears to help the body maintain its ability to adapt, repair and respond to stress."

Hunt added that healthy aging is about more than simply living longer.

"Healthy aging is not just about adding years to life," she said. "It is about preserving strength, function, independence, cognitive health and overall quality of life."

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Researchers stressed that additional studies are needed, but the findings may help explain why regular physical activity remains one of the most effective tools for maintaining health as people age.

The study was conducted in mice, meaning the findings do not necessarily translate directly to humans.

While the team also examined muscle samples from younger and older men and found similar declines in NOX4, additional research is needed to better understand the protein's role in human aging.

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