Connect with us

Health

Simon Cowell says he’s ‘aging backwards’ thanks to controversial blood-rinsing procedure

Published

on

Simon Cowell says he’s ‘aging backwards’ thanks to controversial blood-rinsing procedure

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

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.”

7 STEPS TO ‘SUPER-AGING’ ARE KEY TO LIVING A LONGER, MORE FULFILLING LIFE, EXPERTS SAY

Advertisement

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.

Advertisement

“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.”

ONE OVERLOOKED DAILY HABIT COULD SLOW THE AGING PROCESS, RESEARCHERS SAY

Montague claimed that EBOO has been shown to increase energy and boost the immune system while improving mood and sleep.

Advertisement

“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. 

Advertisement

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.

WHY MOST PEOPLE FALL OFF A ‘HEALTH CLIFF’ AT 75 — AND 5 WAYS TO AVOID THE DROP

“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)

Advertisement

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.

COCOA EXTRACT COULD SLOW AGING PROCESS IN OLDER ADULTS, ‘PROMISING’ NEW STUDY FINDS

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.

Advertisement

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.”

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

“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.”

Advertisement

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. 

CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES

“It’s essentially a ‘reset’ for the bloodstream, removing inflammatory proteins, antibodies and other harmful factors,” he told Fox News Digital.

Advertisement

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.”

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Advertisement

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.

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ

“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.

Advertisement

Health

The Best Time To Take Turmeric for Weight Loss and How To Maximize Results

Published

on

The Best Time To Take Turmeric for Weight Loss and How To Maximize Results


Advertisement


Discover the Best Time To Take Turmeric for Weight Loss | Woman’s World




















Advertisement











Advertisement




Use left and right arrow keys to navigate between menu items.


Use escape to exit the menu.

Advertisement

Continue Reading

Health

Doctor reveals what 30 days without alcohol does to the brain and body amid Dry January

Published

on

Doctor reveals what 30 days without alcohol does to the brain and body amid Dry January

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

After a season of bingeing and drinking, your body may feel like it needs a break from the party.

Dry January — a modern trend that challenges people to abstain from drinking for the first month of the year — has become a popular way to “detox” from the holidays and start the new year on a healthy note.

Research has linked alcohol to a variety of health conditions, ranging from hangovers to higher cancer risk.

5 POPULAR HANGOVER MYTHS THAT DON’T WORK AFTER HOLIDAY DRINKING, ACCORDING TO EXPERTS

Advertisement

In a recent podcast episode of “The Dr. Mark Hyman Show,” Dr. Mark Hyman, chief medical officer of Function Health, shared how 30 days of not drinking alcohol can transform health.

Hyman, who is based in Massachusetts, called Dry January a “powerful way to see in real time how alcohol affects nearly every system of your body and how quickly those systems can recover.”

Dry January has become a popular way to “detox” from the holidays and start the new year on a healthy note. (iStock)

Alcohol’s toll on the brain and body

Hyman acknowledged that most people drink to feel happier and more comfortable in social situations. This effect is caused by the main ingredient in alcohol, called ethanol, which can also have toxic effects.

Instead of stimulating the brain, alcohol slows it down and loosens inhibitions. “You feel more relaxed, more social, more confident, maybe you feel a little euphoric,” Hyman said.

Advertisement

Alcohol’s effect on the brain can also lead to poorer decisions and slower reflexes, the doctor cautioned.

Drinking alcohol can cause cognitive decline and brain fog, experts warn. (iStock)

Drinking also impacts the prefrontal cortex of the brain, which Hyman described as “the adult in the room,” responsible for judgment, planning and restraint. “It goes offline early in drinking, which explains why people feel freer or act impulsively when they drink,” he said.

Even moderate drinking can cause metabolic stress, inflammation, impaired detoxification and hormonal shifts, Hyman said, which can impact nearly every organ system in the body.

POPULAR WEIGHT-LOSS DRUGS COULD TAKE THE EDGE OFF YOUR ALCOHOL BUZZ, STUDY FINDS

Advertisement

Alcohol consumption has also been linked to an increased risk of cancer, metabolic dysfunction, gut microbiome disturbances and mitochondrial toxins.

It can also prevent the body from falling into REM sleep, which is the deep rest recovery period when the immune system cleans out the day’s toxins, according to Hyman.

Alcohol can impact deep rest and mental health, according to experts. (iStock)

Memory loss, cognitive decline, anxiety, sleep disruption, dementia and cardiovascular disease are all known risks of long-term alcohol use, as well as liver complications like fatty liver disease.

“Bottom line, alcohol taxes every major system in your body, especially your liver, your brain, your gut, your hormones,” Hyman said.

Advertisement

The effects of 30 days with no alcohol

The first week after your last drink, the body begins to detoxify and reset, according to Hyman. Blood sugar and cortisol stress hormones level out, and the liver begins to process a “backlog of toxins.” The body also re-hydrates and re-energizes.

The first 30 days with no alcohol allows the body to balance itself out. (iStock)

The second week, the gut and brain will begin to re-balance, as hormones like serotonin and dopamine stabilize, gut inflammation drops and the microbiome begins to heal. Cravings for sugar and alcohol will wane and mental clarity returns, the doctor said.

Week three is marked by further decreases in inflammation, fatty liver and blood pressure. This can be noticeable in the skin, as puffiness and redness are reduced. Mood also begins to stabilize, with lower anxiety levels.

DOCTORS REVEAL WHY ALCOHOL CAUSES ‘BOOZE BUTT’ AND HOW TO PREVENT IT ON NEW YEAR’S

Advertisement

In week four, the body experiences additional metabolic and immune benefits, Hyman shared, including more insulin sensitivity, which makes it easier to lose weight.

“You have a stronger immune response. You’re not getting sick as much. You have better deep sleep, balanced hormones, especially cortisol and testosterone,” he said. “And you see a big change in energy, confidence and focus.”

Abstaining from alcohol can help restore energy, according to experts. (iStock)

Dr. Pinchieh Chiang, a clinician at Circle Medical in San Francisco, said that Dry January isn’t a “detox,” but rather provides “feedback” from the body.

“It gives the body time to show people how it feels without alcohol. For many, that insight alone changes their relationship with drinking,” she said. “The biggest surprise isn’t what people give up, it’s how much better they feel.”

Advertisement

HIGHER STROKE RISK LINKED TO CONSUMING CERTAIN AMOUNT OF ALCOHOL, STUDY FINDS

The doctor confirmed that the first few days of not drinking may feel harder than expected, sometimes causing restlessness, cravings or disrupted sleep, but Dry January can ultimately change drinking habits for the remainder of the year.

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ

After a full year without alcohol, Chiang noted that health improvements are more profound. “We see sustained improvements in blood pressure, liver function and inflammation,” she said. “Those changes directly affect long-term heart disease and stroke risk.”

The risks of ‘all or nothing’

Some experts warn that adopting the Dry January trend could strengthen the urge to drink more in the other months, noting that some drinkers may find more success by slowly consuming fewer drinks per week.

Advertisement

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

Thomas Stopka, Ph.D., an epidemiologist and professor in the public health and community medicine department at Tufts University School of Medicine in Massachusetts, shared in a Futurity report that for some people, “damp January” may be more suitable.

One expert warned that not all drinkers should quit “cold turkey,” as it could lead to severe withdrawals. (iStock)

“Dry January is well-intentioned, and it may work really well for the people who can stick to it, maybe even beyond January,” he said. “Other people may be more inclined to cut down on alcohol consumption rather than quit drinking completely for the month.”

CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES

Advertisement

Stopka noted that successful harm-reduction approaches “aim to be judgment free.”

“Substance use disorder is a disease,” he said. “It takes time to treat the disease and to stay connected to the continuum of care — from prevention to treatment initiation to sustained therapy, whether through medication, self-help, or individual therapy or group support.”

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Those struggling with signs of alcohol use disorder should consult a medical professional for personalized guidance.

Fox News Digital reached out to several alcohol industry associations requesting comment.

Advertisement

Continue Reading

Health

The Best Weight Loss Medications and Supplements in 2026

Published

on

The Best Weight Loss Medications and Supplements in 2026


Advertisement


Our Guide to the Best Weight Loss Medications and Supplements in 2026 | Woman’s World




















Advertisement











Advertisement




Use left and right arrow keys to navigate between menu items.


Use escape to exit the menu.

Advertisement

Continue Reading

Trending