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• Jamie Foxx has revealed details about the “medical complication” he experienced in August 2023, in his new Netflix special
• The actor experienced brain bleeding, known clinically as hemorrhagic stroke.
• Foxx has apparently made a full recovery but admits that he went through the “worst year” of his life.

Jamie Foxx has broken his silence about the medical emergency he suffered in 2023, and he is grateful to be alive.

After nearly two years of silence, the actor has revealed in his new Netflix special, “What Had Happened Was”, that he experienced brain bleeding and stroke. 

“I was fighting for my life,” the 56-year-old said at the top of the special. He’d later strike a more somber tone, stating, “It is a mystery. We still don’t know exactly what happened to me. All I can tell you is that I appreciate every prayer because I needed every prayer.”

Brain bleeding, clinically known as hemorrhagic stroke, is a serious and potentially fatal medical condition. It is caused by a blood vessel that ruptures and bleeds either within the tissue of the brain or in the space between the brain and the skull. During a hemorrhagic stroke, the brain is deprived of oxygen due to a lack of blood flow and pressure caused by blood pooling inside the skull.

Hemorrhagic strokes are far less common, making up only about 13% of all strokes, compared to ischemic strokes.

Foxx appears to have made a full recovery, dispelling rumors that he could no longer walk by dancing around the stage for the packed audience. Nonetheless, he has faced a challenging battle, with one doctor admonishing him that he would have to drop the “arrogant” act if he expected to make a full recovery.

Why Jamie Foxx was hospitalized for brain bleeding

News of Foxx’s “medical complication” initially broke back in April 2023, but the actor was tightlipped. Now he’s revisiting the moment in his special:

“April 11, I was having a bad headache, and I asked my boy for aspirin, and I realized quickly that when you in a medical emergency, your boy don’t know what the f— to do. But I was having such a bad headache,” he recounted. “Before I could get the aspirin,” he continued, “I went out. I don’t remember 20 days.”

The actor’s sister immediately sought out medical attention, only to be sent home by the first doctor, who did not believe his symptoms indicated a serious medical issue. However, his sister sensed the gravity of the situation and continued searching for another hospital.

How can symptoms of a stroke be so easily misdiagnosed?

Having a headache on its own is nonspecific, meaning there are plenty of reasons why someone could have one. 

“A gentleman with sudden onset of headache without focal deficits, and the severity of the headache may or may not have improved to some degree — they might not have had the suspicion that he had a stroke, particularly with him being an otherwise young, healthy guy,” said Kendrick Johnson, MD, an assistant professor of neurosurgery at the Tulane University School of Medicine, told Healthline.

He notes that it is often necessary to use some form of intracranial imaging, such as a CT scan or MRI, to identify bleeding in the brain.

Foxx’s experience underscores the importance of being able to identify the signs and symptoms of stroke since immediate medical care can be the difference between life and death or permanent disability.

How to identify signs of hemorrhagic stroke?

“Sudden onset of headache is highly suspicious of acute bleeding in the brain. That’s a very common presentation, coupled with loss of consciousness,” said Johnson.

A bad headache isn’t necessarily indicative of a stroke, most of the time. But, a particularly bad one could be.

“We often refer to it as the worst headache of one’s life,” said Mitch Elkind, MD, MS, the Chief Clinical Science Officer of the American Heart Association. 

Some forms of hemorrhagic stroke, such as subarachnoid hemorrhage, which is often caused by a burst brain aneurysm, are strongly linked to extreme headaches.

“That is the one that classically causes the worst headache of one’s life,” said Elkind, “Sometimes there can be nausea and vomiting from that, and it can actually be a cause of sudden death. It can be so severe that there’s enough blood surrounding the brain that you can’t get normal blood flow into the brain.”

It’s unclear if Foxx experienced a subarachnoid hemorrhage or another form of brain bleeding.

But headache isn’t the only sign of hemorrhagic stroke either, and its symptoms can often be similar to the more common ischemic stroke. 

“Depending on where the bleeding is, you can have any number of focal deficits, including weakness in one arm or leg, numbness and tingling in one arm or leg, difficulty speaking, difficulty understanding speech, visual difficulty; all those types of symptoms are indicative of having some insult to the brain,” said Johnson.

To identify stroke, Elkind recommends memorizing the acronym FAST, which stands for:

• Face: Does the side of the face droop, or is it numb? Can the individual smile when asked?
• Arm weakness: Is one arm weak or numb? Can the individual raise both arms?
• Speech difficulty: Does the individual have slurred speech?
• Time to call 911: Stroke is always an emergency, and every minute counts. Note the time when symptoms first appeared and seek immediate medical attention.

“We know that time is brain. So whether it’s a hemorrhage or an ischemic stroke, the faster somebody’s diagnosed and treated, the better they will do,” said Elkind.

Takeaway

Jamie Foxx experienced a hemorrhagic stroke and brain bleeding in August 2023 but appears to have made a full recovery.

The actor described experiencing a terrible headache before losing consciousness. That description is consistent with the signs and symptoms of hemorrhagic stroke, particularly the form known as subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Hemorrhagic stroke may also mirror common symptoms of ischemic stroke as well, such as arm or leg numbness, facial drooping, and slurred speech.

Remember the acronym FAST to identify stroke symptoms, and always seek out immediate medical attention if you suspect a stroke.

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• Cardiorespiratory fitness is associated with improved cognitive function in older adults.
• Researchers found that individuals with better cardiorespiratory fitness scored higher across five cognitive health domains.
• The findings illustrate that lifestyle choices, such as exercise, can significantly decrease dementia risk.

Cardiorespiratory fitness among older adults is associated with better outcomes related to cognitive ability, including memory and executive functioning.

According to new research, those benefits also appear to remain robust despite the presence of key risk factors for cognitive decline, such as old age and carrying the APOE4 gene, a predictor of Alzheimer’s disease. The findings were published December 10 in The British Journal of Sports Medicine.

“We found that cardiorespiratory fitness — a measure of aerobic capacity that we can modify by engaging in regular aerobic exercise — was positively related to better cognitive performance across multiple domains,” first study author Lauren Oberlin, PhD, associate investigator at Advent Health and clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medical College, told Healthline.

“In addition, higher fitness levels were linked to better thinking and memory skills even among older adults at higher risk for cognitive decline,” she noted.

The findings support recommendations for individuals of all ages, even older adults, to get more active. 

Benefits across five cognitive domains

For their research, Oberlin and her colleagues recruited 648 older adults for a physical test and a battery of cognitive assessments. 

Participants were between 65 and 80 years of age, and predominantly (71%) female.

Participants who engaged in less than 20 minutes per day of moderate-to-vigorous exercise three days per week or more over the past six months were excluded from the study. Those with severe mental health conditions or certain neurological conditions were also excluded, as were people with a recent history of cardiovascular events or type 1 diabetes.

Enrolled participants took part in a VO2 max test on a treadmill to assess cardiorespiratory fitness. The test measures the maximum rate of oxygen that an individual’s body can utilize while exercising at maximum intensity. The higher the VO2 max score, the higher the level of cardiorespiratory fitness.

Participants had an average VO2 max of 21.68 ml/kg/min, below what is considered a good VO2 max score for both men (30-40 ml/kg/min) and women (25-35 ml/kg/min).

Following the VO2 max test, participants then took cognitive tests across five domains of brain function:

• Working memory: Short-term memory, like remembering a phone number while dialing.
• Episodic memory: The ability to recall specific events and details.
• Processing speed: How fast the brain can respond to new information.
• Executive function/attention control: The domain associated with decision making and planning.
• Visuospatial function: The ability to perceive and interpret spatial relationships, used for activities like driving and puzzle solving.

Higher cardiorespiratory fitness, as indicated by the VO2 test, was associated with better performance across all five of these domains, regardless of age and the presence of the APOE4 gene.

“This is a ray of hope,” James Powers, MD, professor of geriatric medicine at Vanderbilt University and director of the Middle Tennessee Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program, told Healthline. Powers wasn’t affiliated with the research.

“We’re finding that there indeed is a very real effect, a correlation between cardiovascular fitness, exercise, and cognitive status. This study is very important to us as we try to educate the community, and try to encourage our patients in lifestyle choices throughout their lifespan,” Powers said.

“What we’re learning from studies like this, and there are others, is that we indeed can take some personal effort that can have a meaningful impact in our lives in terms of forestalling or preventing a risk of dementia,” he noted.

In addition, the association was more prominent in women and participants taking beta-blockers. However, as an observational study, there is no recognized causation between taking those drugs and the cognitive benefits.

“Beta-blockers can impact an individual’s ability to reach fitness-related thresholds,” Oberlin said.

“It may be that maintaining higher fitness in the setting of chronic conditions treated by beta-blockers may be important for preserving executive functioning. However, since this is a cross-sectional study, we can only speculate on the nature of these relationships,” she added.

Improving cardiorespiratory fitness at any age

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity physical activity, such as 30 minutes per day, five days per week.

These guidelines include activities you might not think of as “exercise”, such as gardening and walking.

It is especially important for older adults to maintain physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness while minimizing the risk of injury.

A workout plan for older adults may include activities such as:

• balance and flexibility exercise
• regular walks
• swimming or water aerobics
• strength training
• aerobics classes like Zumba

The bottom line is that staying physically fit is not just about your body; it’s about your brain.

“Every additional step you take is an investment in your brain health,” Lydia Bazzano, MD, PhD, director of the Tulane Center for Lifespan Epidemiology Research at Tulane University, told Healthline. Bazzano was not affiliated with the research.

“Even if you’re just parking farther away and walking a little bit more toward your destination. Every extra bit of physical activity that you can get is a potential benefit to your brain,” she said.

Takeaway

Better cardiorespiratory fitness translates to better cognitive health outcomes in older adults, according to new research.

The study’s findings, based on a VO2 max test, showed that individuals who were more fit performed better across five domains of cognitive ability, including memory and executive functioning.

The study indicates that staying physically fit, even into older adulthood, is important for brain health. 

Lifestyle choices, including exercise, can meaningfully impact risk of dementia and cognitive decline.

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• A study found that sugary drinks increase cardiovascular risk.
• However, occasional sweet treats did not present the same risk.
• Experts say sugary drinks spike blood sugar and cause insulin resistance.
• Insulin resistance puts you at greater risk of cardiovascular disease.
• It is advised to keep your added sugar intake at 10% of calories or less.

It’s well known that eating too much sugar is bad for health.

However, a new study indicates that it may not just be the amount of sugar ingested but also where it’s coming from and the regularity with which we consume it.

According to research published on December 9, 2024, in Frontiers in Public Health, having too much added sugar raises the risk of stroke or aneurysm.

However, only consuming a few sweet treats was linked with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease.

On the other hand, drinking sugar-sweetened drinks was associated with a higher risk of stroke, heart failure, and atrial fibrillation, per the study.

Added sugar’s link to cardiovascular disease

To conduct the study, the researchers examined data from two large studies: the Swedish Mammography Cohort and the Cohort of Swedish Men.

They used diet questionnaires from these studies, done in 1997 and 2009, to get an idea of how people’s diets had changed.

After ensuring that the two sets of data met the same conditions for inclusion and excluding independent risk factors, nearly 70,000 participants were included in the study.

The research team then divided people’s sugar consumption into three categories: sugary toppings, treats, and sweetened drinks.

They additionally identified seven cardiovascular diseases, including atrial fibrillation, aortic aneurysms, aortic stenosis, ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, heart attack, and heart failure.

The study participants were monitored until they either died, were diagnosed with one of the diseases of interest, or at the end of the follow-up in 2019.

Altogether, almost 26,000 people ended up being diagnosed with cardiovascular disease.

The researchers used the data collected to analyze how the different patterns of sugar consumption influenced people’s risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

Sweetened drinks were found to have the worst effect on health, increasing the risk of ischemic stroke, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and aortic aneurysm.

Further, consuming more added sugar in general contributed to the risk of ischemic stroke, aortic aneurysm, and heart failure.

Having only occasional treats, however, yielded better results than having no treats, per the researchers.

While they were unable to explain this effect, they suggested that it might be because the individuals who ate no treats at all had highly restrictive diets or other health problems.

However, they believe these findings indicate that extremely low sugar intake may not be needed to benefit cardiovascular health. 

Why sweet drinks increase risk more than occasional treats

Michelle Routhenstein, MS RD CDCES CDN, cardiology dietitian and owner at Entirely Nourished, explained the difference between sweetened drinks — for example, sodas, energy drinks, and sweetened teas or coffees — by saying that these beverages have a high glycemic index, which means they rapidly spike blood sugar levels.

“This leads to a corresponding spike in insulin, the hormone responsible for helping cells absorb glucose,” she added.

Routhenstein went on to explain that consistently consuming high-sugar drinks can overwhelm your body’s ability to handle the high influx of sugar.

This contributes to insulin resistance, she explained, which is a condition where your body’s cells lose their responsiveness to this hormone.

“Over time, this can result in impaired glucose metabolism, which is linked to increased fat storage, inflammation, and damage to blood vessels — all risk factors for cardiovascular disease,” said Routhenstein.

On the other hand, occasional treats do not create this state of overwhelm.

“Since they’re infrequent, they don’t create a pattern of chronic overconsumption, allowing the body to process glucose normally without long-term disruption to metabolic health,” she concluded.

What is considered to be an ‘occasional’ treat

Bharathi Ramesh, MS, who is a nutritionist and clinical research professional in New York, clarified the term, saying, “‘Occasional’ typically means consuming sweet treats sparingly — no more than once or twice a week, depending on overall dietary habits and individual health goals.”

Additionally, Ramesh noted that the American Heart Association (AHA) recommends keeping added sugar below 10% of daily calories.

“For example, in a 2,000-calorie diet, this amounts to less than 50 grams (about 12 teaspoons) of added sugar per day,” she said.

Ramesh offered the example of a standard 12-ounce can of soda, which contains about 35-50 grams of sugar. This already exceeds the AHA’s recommendation for most people, she said.

However, a smaller serving, such as 6 ounces, which has 18-20 grams, could potentially fit into your allowance if you avoid most other sugar sources.

“Similarly, a small treat, such as a single cookie or a modest slice of cake with about 15-20 grams of sugar, could also align with the daily limit,” said Ramesh, “provided overall sugar intake from other foods and drinks is carefully managed.”

She further advised that when buying sweet drinks, it’s essential to look for hidden sugars in beverages like flavored coffee, sports drinks, and fruit juices. These can add up quickly.

“Opting for water, unsweetened teas, or beverages with no added sugar helps maintain balance while allowing for occasional indulgences,” suggested Ramesh.

For sweet treats, she said it’s crucial to keep an eye on portion sizes in order to avoid exceeding the added sugar limit set by the AHA.

“Regular exercise and a well-balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains further mitigate the potential adverse effects of occasional sugary treats,” said Ramesh.

Takeaway

New research indicates that it’s not just how much sugar we are consuming but also the source and how often we have it.

Sugary drinks were associated with a greater risk of cardiovascular disease.

However, occasional sweet treats did not present this same risk.

Nutrition experts say regularly having sugary drinks spikes blood sugar and creates insulin resistance, which can increase your cardiovascular risk.

Occasional treats, however, do not overwhelm your body’s ability to handle the extra sugar.

The AHA recommends consuming no more than 10% of your daily calories in the form of added sugar. This equates to about 12 teaspoons of sugar with a 2,000-calorie diet.

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• Eggs distributed to 25 Costco stores across five states have been recalled due to concerns about potential Salmonella contamination.
• Salmonella concerns have also led to recalls across 35 states of cucumbers from Baloian Farm, Russ Davis, and SunFed Produce.
• The outbreak strain of Salmonella connected with the recalled cucumbers has sickened 68 people in 19 states, with 18 people requiring hospitalization as of November 26, 2024.

According to a food safety alert issued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on November 27, 2024, eggs sold at Costco are being recalled due to the risk that they may be contaminated with Salmonella.

The recall covers 10,800 packages of Kirkland Signature Organic Pasture Raised 24-Count Eggs from Handsome Brook Farm.

They were distributed to 25 Costco locations beginning November 22 in the following states:

• Georgia
• North Carolina
• South Carolina
• Alabama
• Tennessee 

“The recall only applies to units with the Julian code 327 and a Use By Date of Jan 5, 2025, which can be found printed on the side of the plastic egg carton. No other products are impacted by this recall,” the FDA said in the safety alert.

The FDA also noted that there have been no reports of illness associated with the eggs to date.

What to do if you bought recalled eggs from Costco

The FDA warns that consumers who have purchased the eggs shouldn’t eat them.

Instead, they should throw the eggs away or return them to their local Costco store for a full refund.

Cucumbers also recalled across 35 states due to Salmonella concerns

Salmonella concerns have also led to recalls across 35 states of cucumbers from the companies Baloian Farms and Russ Davis, according to an update issued by the FDA on Monday.

The announcement follows a previous recall of cucumbers from the company SunFed Produce that was issued on November 28.

According to the FDA, the three companies purchased the affected produce, which was grown by Agrotato in Sonora, Mexico, from importers between October 12 and November 26.

Multiple products containing cucumbers were part of the recall from Russ Davis, including:

• Crazy Fresh Garden Salad W/ Ranch Dressing
• Quick & Easy Garden Salad with Ranch Dressing
• Crazy Fresh Turkey Havarti Wrap
• Quick & Easy Bacon Avocado Wrap
• Crazy Fresh Bacon Avocado Wrap
• Kowalski’s Market Garden Salad

Though distribution has been confirmed to those states, the FDA noted that “product may have been distributed further, reaching additional states.”

According to the FDA, the outbreak strain of Salmonella has sickened 68 people in 19 states, with 18 people requiring hospitalization as of November 26, 2024.

No deaths have been reported.

What to do if you think you may have bought recalled cucumbers

If you believe you may have bought recalled cucumbers or products containing recalled cucumbers from SunFed Produce, Baloian Farms, or Russ Davis, the FDA recommends that you throw them out immediately.

You should also clean and sanitize any surfaces that they may have touched.

Symptoms of salmonella food poisoning

Symptoms of Salmonella food poisoning typically appear 8 to 72 hours after eating food or drinking water contaminated with the bacteria.

Common symptoms include:

• nausea
• vomiting
• chills
• diarrhea
• fever
• dehydration
• bloody stool
• abdominal pain, cramping, or tenderness

The symptoms can be aggressive and last for up to 48 hours.

Contact a healthcare professional if you believe you are experiencing symptoms of Salmonella food poisoning.

Takeaway

Concerns about Salmonella contamination have led to multistate recalls of cucumbers from SunFed Produce, Baloian Farms, and Russ Davis, as well as eggs sold at Costco.

The outbreak strain of Salmonella connected with the recalled cucumbers has sickened 68 people in 19 states, with 18 people requiring hospitalization as of November 26, 2024.

If you believe you may have purchased recalled eggs or cucumbers, the FDA recommends you throw them away or return them to the store for a refund.

You should also clean and sanitize any surfaces that they may have touched.

• The 90-30-50 diet is trending now on TikTok.
• It was created to aid weight loss with the autoimmune disease Hashimoto’s.
• It advocates eating specific amounts of protein, fiber, and fats.
• Eating these nutrients can help metabolism, satiety, blood sugar, and inflammation.
• However, it may not be right for all people. Consult with a professional for advice.

Whatever you’re looking to do, there’s sure to be a TikTok trend to show you how, and weight loss is no exception.

What’s trending now? Courtney Kassis‘ 90-30-50 diet.

The registered dietitian says she created the plan to help with weight gain associated with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis after she received a diagnosis for the autoimmune disease.

What is Hashimoto’s thyroiditis?

This autoimmune disease causes your body to attack its own thyroid tissue, leading to inadequate production of thyroid hormone. In addition to weight gain, it can cause symptoms such as fatigue, joint pain, constipation, intolerance to cold, depression, and skin and hair changes.

Although this diet was formulated by a dietitian, TikTok tends to spawn many less-than-healthy trends. That’s why Healthline spoke with other nutrition experts to weigh in on this plan’s effectiveness and highlight any potential drawbacks people should consider before following it.

What is the 90-30-50 diet?

To understand what the 90-30-50 diet is, we need to talk about what those three numbers in the name mean.

Trista Best, MPH, RDN, LD — who is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist at The Candida Diet, an Environmental Health Specialist, and an Adjunct Nutrition Professor — told Healthline this approach requires dieters to hit three daily targets: 90 grams of protein, 30 grams of fiber, and 50 grams of fat.

“Following the 90-30-50 method does not create a calorie deficit as most diets do,” she added, “but focuses rather on consuming a significant amount of these three nutrients.”

Best explained that eating protein helps the body repair muscle tissue, preserves muscle, and improves satiety.

“Building and preserving muscle during weight loss is essential to keeping metabolism high as lean muscle burns calories at a high rate,” she said.

According to Best, the diet recommends fiber because it supports a healthy gut, increases satiety, and helps balance blood sugar.

Finally, she said, getting plenty of healthy fats aids in nutrient absorption, energy, and hormone regulation.

“This combination of benefits can aid in preventing overeating and fat storage,” said Best.

Is the 90-30-50 diet effective for weight loss?

Shelley Balls, MDA, RDN, LDN — a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist for Consumer Health Digest — said the diet should be “very effective” for weight loss, echoing what Best said about protein helping to retain muscle mass, thus keeping your metabolic rate high.

“Consuming more protein throughout the day will help you feel more satisfied and help you make healthier food choices,” she said.

Dietary fiber’s ability to help you feel full faster and keep you full longer is also beneficial to weight loss, per Balls.

She additionally noted that the anti-inflammatory effects of eating healthy fats can help promote weight loss.

“Studies show when saturated fats are replaced with healthy fats, LDL cholesterol levels decrease, waist circumference decreases, and other health biomarkers improve,” said Balls.

They can also help with satiety and prevent blood sugar spikes. She noted that both of these will help you with your weight loss goals.

Best, however, pointed out that while the diet may be effective for weight loss, it may not be sustainable in the long run.

“This is primarily due to the rigidity required in eating that may cause some to feel overly restricted,” she said. This might lead to rebound weight gain once the plan is stopped.

Are there any health risks associated with the 90-30-50 diet?

There are some potential issues with this diet since it doesn’t address the unique needs of every individual.

“Individual macronutrient targets may not be met through this method depending on the degree of activity, health conditions, or the elderly,” said Best.

Balls additionally pointed out that if you are not very active, this amount of protein could be too high for your needs.

“Those with kidney disease may also want to talk to their doctor before consuming this much protein,” she advised.

Even if you don’t have kidney disease, the Academy of Nutrition and Diet suggests that it’s a good idea to speak with a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist before starting a new diet. They can help you understand whether a particular dietary plan is right for you.

Takeaway

The 90-30-50 diet is trending on TikTok.

This diet emphasizes eating 90 grams of protein, 30 grams of fiber, and 50 grams of healthy fats every day.

The creator of the diet formulated it to help her lose weight after she was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.

Experts say eating plenty of these nutrients helps with metabolism, satiety, blood sugar balance, and inflammation, which can help aid weight loss.

However, they caution that this diet may be challenging to follow in the long term.

It might also not be appropriate for all people, for example, those with kidney disease.

Speak with a health professional, such as a doctor or registered dietitian, to determine whether this dietary plan is appropriate for your needs.