Health
Simon Cowell says he’s ‘aging backwards’ thanks to controversial blood-rinsing procedure
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Simon Cowell is opening up about the unconventional wellness procedure that he claims is helping him age backwards — one that “rinses” and “filters” his blood before returning it to his body.
Although the music mogul, 66, didn’t specify which particular procedure he undergoes, the description is similar to apheresis, which is a medical procedure that draws blood from the body, spins it to separate and remove certain elements, then returns it to the body, according to Cleveland Clinic.
“I go to this place, this wellness clinic, where they actually take your blood, they rinse it, they filter it and then they put it back into your body,” Cowell, 66, told The Sun in the interview. “You do all these tests, and they tell you your age, so I’ve actually aged backwards by eating better, more exercise, less stress and certain supplements. My brain is still there, I still have the energy.”
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The “X Factor” judge has previously shared other procedures he has undergone, including filler and Botox, but stated in 2022 that he “might have gone a bit too far” and has since stopped getting filler.
“For me now, a lot of it comes down to healthy eating and drinking tons of water,” he told The Sun at the time.
Simon Cowell admitted to getting a lot of treatments done, including a placenta facial. (Photo by PG/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)
What to know about blood treatments
EBOO — which stands for extracorporeal blood oxygenation and ozonation — is an alternative wellness treatment in which a person’s blood is circulated outside the body, exposed to medical-grade ozone and oxygen, run through a filter and then returned to the bloodstream, according to clinics that offer the service.
While older forms of ozone therapy have been used to treat autoimmune conditions, the newer EBOO method has been touted for potential anti-aging benefits — although experts warn that evidence of its effectiveness is lacking.
“I go to this place, this wellness clinic, where they actually take your blood, they rinse it, they filter it and then they put it back into your body,” Cowell, 66, told The Sun in the interview. (Getty Images)
Ralph Montague, longevity expert from The Longevity Clinic in London, shared with Fox News Digital why this procedure is gaining attention as a potential longevity-booster.
“Celebrities have turned to EBOO, which filters the blood using advanced technology, helping them to age backwards,” he said. “For many people, it’s not about adding a few years to their life — it’s about living healthier and better.”
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Montague claimed that EBOO has been shown to increase energy and boost the immune system while improving mood and sleep.
“Many people who do this also describe the improvements in mental clarity, mood stability and general well-being,” he added.
Risks and regulations
Montague noted that the EBOO treatment is not for everyone.
“Those who have blood-clotting or bleeding disorders are typically advised to stay away from this medical method, as there’s a potential that it could increase the risk of clotting happening,” he warned.
“It’s essentially a ‘reset’ for the bloodstream.”
Ozone therapy can also create oxidative stress, which may lead to the breaking down of red blood cells, according to Montague.
People with G6PD deficiency — a hereditary enzyme deficiency that makes red blood cells more fragile and more easily damaged — are especially vulnerable to this, so they should avoid treatments like ozone therapy, he said.
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“Those with heart problems are also advised to get advice from a doctor beforehand, particularly those who have had a recent heart attack or been diagnosed with severe heart failure, as this treatment can shift blood pressure levels,” Montague noted.
“There’s also insufficient evidence that this is fine to do for those who are pregnant or breastfeeding, and it’s better to be safe than sorry if you’re in that category.”
Dr. Brett Osborn, a Florida neurosurgeon and longevity expert (pictured with his team at Senolytix), offers “therapeutic apheresis,” which separates and filters blood plasma while returning the red blood cells to the patient. (Senolytix)
The treatment should only be performed in medical environments after getting consent from a doctor.
The Food and Drug Administration only approves apheresis (blood filtering) devices for specific medical indications, such as autoimmune disorders, certain blood cancers and plasma exchange for specific diseases.
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They are not approved for anti-aging, detox, microplastics removal or wellness purposes.
“The device is not FDA-approved for the treatment of any disease or condition,” the Department of Health and Human Services confirmed to Fox News Digital.
Doctors weigh in
Medical experts widely caution that ozone-based blood cleansing procedures remain unregulated, unproven and potentially unsafe.
Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News senior medical analyst, warns against these procedures, calling them “dangerous.”
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“The process could hemolyze red blood cells, leading to organ damage, blood clots and other issues,” he told Fox News Digital.
“I’m also concerned about metabolic derangements (abnormalities or disruptions) that could occur, including high potassium.”
EBOO is an alternative wellness treatment in which a person’s blood is circulated outside the body, exposed to medical-grade ozone and oxygen, run through a filter and then returned to the bloodstream. (iStock)
Siegel said he believes these treatments are “ineffective” and don’t have any effect on the pace of aging, noting that the liver and kidneys are designed to naturally filter waste.
Other doctors are proponents of the technique, including Dr. Brett Osborn, a Florida neurosurgeon and longevity expert. At Osborn’s longevity practice, Senolytix, he offers “therapeutic apheresis,” which separates and filters blood plasma while returning the red blood cells to the patient.
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“It’s essentially a ‘reset’ for the bloodstream, removing inflammatory proteins, antibodies and other harmful factors,” he told Fox News Digital.
Some potential benefits include lower blood pressure, reduced iron load (a powerful oxidant believed to accelerate the aging process) and reduced inflammatory cytokines, according to the doctor.
“Nutrition, strength training, sleep and stress mitigation remain the foundation of longevity.”
Osborn agreed that this practice should be performed by physicians to ensure safety.
“The main risk is mild — transient hypotension from a so-called ‘citrate reaction’ — which we monitor for and treat immediately,” he said. “Otherwise, modern apheresis is a well-established medical procedure used to treat autoimmune, neurological and metabolic diseases.”
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While the procedure can remove inflammatory cells that drive aging and chronic disease, Osborn said it’s not a “magic bullet” — and not a replacement for personal responsibility.
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“Nutrition, strength training, sleep and stress mitigation remain the foundation of longevity,” he said. “But in a world where Americans increasingly seek proactive, preventive care, plasma filtering represents a modern refinement of an ancient medical instinct.”
Fox News Digital reached out to Simon Cowell’s representatives for comment.
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Health
Pediatricians group stands up for kids’ rapidly shrinking recess time: ‘Very powerful benefit’
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Recess may look like downtime, but pediatricians say cutting it could cost kids far more than a few minutes on the playground.
The American Academy of Pediatrics released updated guidance for the first time in more than a decade that urges schools to protect recess, highlighting that the unstructured break delivers major benefits for kids’ health, learning and behavior.
“It has a very powerful benefit if it’s used to the fullest,” said Dr. Robert Murray, a lead author of the new guidance, which was published Monday in the journal Pediatrics.
Researchers say recess helps students reset between lessons, improving focus and memory. It also gives kids time to build social skills, boost confidence and stay physically active, a key factor as 1 in 5 U.S. children and teens struggle with obesity.
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Students play ball during recess at St. Agnes Elementary School in Phoenix, Ariz., on March 3, 2020. (Dario Lopez-Mills/AP)
Despite those benefits, recess time has been shrinking for years. Since the mid-2000s, up to 40% of school districts have reduced or eliminated it, according to data from the Springboard to Active Schools group and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The group is pushing schools to reverse that trend, recommending at least 20 minutes of daily recess and multiple breaks. It further warned against using it as punishment.
Whittier Elementary School students enjoy recess in Mesa, Ariz., on Oct. 18, 2022. (Matt York/AP)
“If the child is disruptive or rude and disrespectful, recess is one of the things that teachers use to punish kids,” Murray said, noting that those students often need it most.
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Doctors also stress that recess isn’t just for younger children. As screen time rises, older students need time to unplug, move and recharge.
Elementary school students play tag outside on the grass during recess. (iStock)
“As kids get older, they’re more on their screens,” said Dr. Lauren Fiechtner, a pediatric specialist. “So it’s really helpful, I think, for outdoor activity and recess to be happening. Recess is great. We all kind of need recess.”
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In other countries such as Denmark, Japan and the United Kingdom, students already get more frequent breaks, often after every 45 to 50 minutes of instruction. Experts say this model could help U.S. schools improve both learning and student well-being.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Health
Cruise ship linked to deadly Hantavirus outbreak arrives off Tenerife as passenger evacuation begins
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The cruise ship linked to a deadly Hantavirus outbreak arrived early Sunday off the Spanish island of Tenerife, where passengers began to evacuate and fly to their home countries.
Passengers are being tested by Spanish health authorities to ensure they are asymptomatic before being transported ashore in small boats, Spanish officials said, according to Reuters.
Spanish health authorities confirmed that the first plane carrying the Spanish passengers has departed for a military hospital in Madrid, where they will be under quarantine.
The 17 Americans aboard the MV Hondius will be flown to a medical center in Nebraska after health officials allow them to disembark.
AMERICANS TO BE EVACUATED FROM HANTAVIRUS CRUISE SHIP AS GLOBAL HEALTH CHIEF TRAVELS TO QUARANTINE ISLAND
The cruise ship MV Hondius arrives at the port of Granadilla de Abona after being affected by a Hantavirus outbreak, in Tenerife, Spain, May 10, 2026. (REUTERS/Hannah McKay)
A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) official told ABC News on Saturday morning that federal officials currently do not plan to mandate quarantine when the American passengers arrive in Nebraska.
They will instead be screened upon arrival in the U.S. and either stay briefly at Nebraska’s National Quarantine Unit or return home to monitor for symptoms for 42 days while staying in contact with local health authorities, the official said.
The ship set course for Spain on Wednesday from the coast of Cape Verde after the WHO and European Union requested assistance in managing the outbreak.
The ship’s arrival comes hours after World Health Organization Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus arrived on the island.
The WHO said Friday that eight people aboard the ship had fallen ill, including three who died. Six cases have been confirmed, with two others suspected.
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A cruise ship linked to a Hantavirus outbreak anchored near the Spanish island of Tenerife ahead of a planned evacuation. (REUTERS/Hannah McKay)
In a statement Saturday, Ghebreyesus said the public health risk remains low.
“I know you are worried. I know that when you hear the word ‘outbreak’ and watch a ship sail toward your shores, memories surface that none of us have fully put to rest,” he said.
“The pain of 2020 is still real, and I do not dismiss it for a single moment. But I need you to hear me clearly: this is not another COVID-19. The current public health risk from Hantavirus remains low. My colleagues and I have said this unequivocally, and I will say it again to you now,” he continued.
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A police boat operates next to the cruise ship MV Hondius at the port of Granadilla de Abona after being affected by a hantavirus outbreak, in Tenerife, Spain, May 10, 2026. (REUTERS/Hannah McKay)
Ghebreyesus noted that the virus identified aboard the ship is the Andes strain of hantavirus, which can be severe.
“Three people have lost their lives, and our hearts go out to their families,” he wrote, reiterating that the public health risk posed by the virus remained low.
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An ambulance evacuates patients from the MV Hondius cruise ship to the airport in Praia, Cape Verde, on May 6, 2026. (Misper Apawu/AP)
About 30 crew members are expected to remain on board as the vessel continues to the Netherlands, where it will be disinfected.
Fox News Digital’s Robert McGreevy, The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
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