The magic of lemon juice and activated charcoal: Natural DIY solutions for skin and teeth

By
Monica Pop
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When it comes to your routine of keeping your skin and teeth healthy, nature often provides the most powerful solutions.

The truth is that plenty of natural ingredients often hold the key to simple, effective self-care.

Whether you’re looking to brighten your smile, rejuvenate your skin, or give your nails a boost, lemon juice and activated charcoal are the way to go.

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Below are six creative ways to include these simple but powerful ingredients in your routine:

1. Sparkling Smile

If you want your teeth to be white and free of cavity, mix a small amount of activated charcoal with a few drops of lemon juice. Use the paste to gently brush your teeth for a minute or two before rinsing.

Charcoal helps get rid of the surface stains on your teeth, while lemon juice’s gentle acidity brightens them.

Use this paste once a week and enjoy your sparkling smile.

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2. Skin Reset Mask

For purified and refreshed skin, mix a teaspoon of activated charcoal with a teaspoon of lemon juice. Spread a thin layer of the mask over your face, leave it for about 10 minutes, then rinse with warm water. For extra moisture, add a teaspoon of honey or aloe vera to the mixture.

Charcoal will help with the impurities, and the lemon will help tighten and tone your pores.

3. DIY Glow Scrub

Combine activated charcoal, lemon juice, and a natural exfoliant like sugar or oats to buff away dead skin cells. Massage gently in circular motions, rinse, and follow with a moisturizer. The result? Smooth and refreshed skin.

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4. Foot Detox Soak

Treat your feet to a mini spa session. Dissolve a tablespoon of charcoal and a tablespoon of lemon juice in warm water, then soak your feet for 15-20 minutes. Add a few drops of peppermint or tea tree oil for a cooling, purifying effect.

While the mixture of lemon juice and activated charcoal provides many benefits, make sure you avoid irritation or damage by overusing it.

If you use it more than once a week for your teeth, you can easily affect the teeth enamel. Also, if you have a delicate skin, have in mind that the lemon juice may irritate it, so make sure you do a patch test before applying it in full.

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Never use the mixture on open wounds or cuts since it can cause irritation and damage to your skin.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional medical or dental advice. Always do a patch test before applying any new mixture to your skin, and consult a dermatologist, dentist, or healthcare professional if you have any concerns or experience irritation. Use these remedies at your own risk.

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6-year-old boy has stroke after waking up – doctor warns parents to watch for 4 key signs

By
Monica Pop
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When we think of strokes, we usually think of old people, but the sad reality is that they can strike children too.

What seemed like a normal morning for a family with a six-year-old turned critical in seconds after the child collapsed right after waking up. Before falling on the floor, his parents said he lost strength on one side of his body.

Luckily, he was taken to the hospital just in time to be provided with much-needed medical help.

This case shows that although it’s rather rare for children to suffer from stroke, it is not something unheard of. In fact, thousands of children across the globe experience strokes each year, but too often they go undetected because the symptoms don’t always match what people expect.

Sadly, many of those children are misdiagnosed or treated too late. Doctors now emphasize that knowing the warning signs can make the difference between life and death, outlining four key signs every parent should be aware of.

1. Sudden Weakness or Numbness on One Side

If a child suddenly loses strength or sensation in their arm, leg, or face, it could signal a stroke. Watch for difficulty moving a limb or an uneven smile. Even if it seems minor or like they slept awkwardly, treat it as an emergency and call for help immediately.

2. Difficulty Speaking or Understanding Speech

If your child suddenly slurs words, struggles to form sentences, or difficulties processing what you are saying to them, it may signal a stroke affecting the brain’s language centers. While speech changes can be easy to miss in young children whose language skills are still developing, any sudden difficulty communicating should be treated as serious.

3. Loss of Balance or Sudden Dizziness

Another indicator of stroke is when the child has trouble walking, moves unsteadily, or experiences sudden dizziness. So, if your child stumbles, can’t stand steadily, or complains that the room feels like it’s spinning, seek medical attention immediately.

Such symptoms often point to disruption in the brain regions responsible for movement and balance.

4. Seizures or Unusual Behavior

Seizures can sometimes be an early sign of stroke in children. If a child who has never had a seizure before suddenly experiences one, especially after waking, call a doctor.

Other signs may be abrupt behavioral changes such as confusion, extreme fatigue, or hallucinations.

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As doctors try to raise awareness of the symptoms that may indicate your child is experiencing a stoke, they also remind you that seeking immediate medical help is crucial because in moments like that every second counts.

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Oprah Winfrey opens up on biggest regret amid ‘Ozempic weight loss’

By
Monica Pop
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Oprah Winfrey made history when she shattered barriers in television. A media mogul, author, and cultural force, she continues to inspire as one of the most influential women of all time.

Throughout the 25-year run of The Oprah Winfrey Show, thousands of guests shared their stories on a wide range of subjects.

But for Oprah Winfrey, one moment lingers as her greatest regret, involving weight and weight loss, a deeply personal struggle she has continued to face in recent years.

Following her farewell from television, Oprah has launched The Oprah Podcast and kept herself busy running her book club.

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Some two years ago, she revealed that she began using GLP-1, a type 2 diabetes medication that can also trigger weight loss which helped her lose 50 pounds.

“One of the things that I realized the very first time I took a GLP-1 was that all these years I thought that thin people, those people just had more willpower,” Oprah said in her podcast.

“They ate better foods, they were able to stick to it longer, they never had a potato chip.”

She continued: “And then I realized the very first time I took the GLP-1 that, ‘Oh, they’re not even thinking about it. They’re only eating when they’re hungry and they’re stopping when they’re full,” before sharing the reason behind her decision to reveal that she was taking a weight loss drug.

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“When I announced last January I was like an anomaly, an anomaly in that I was willing to say it,” Oprah concluded.

While she openly spoke of her struggles with weight loss, she also admitted that the topic of her weight has at one point become “a national sport,” telling People Magazine many were making fun of her appearance.

“I want to acknowledge that I have been a steadfast participant in this diet culture through my platforms, through the magazine, through the talk show for 25 years.”

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Further, she recalled a magazine cover dubbing her “Dumpy, Frumpy and Downright Lumpy.”

“I didn’t feel angry,” she told People. “I felt sad, I felt hurt, I swallowed the shame, I accepted that it was my fault.”

Now, she says she’s “done with shaming.”

“I’ve been a steadfast participant in this diet culture,” Oprah said. “Through my platforms, through the magazine, through the talk show for 25 years, through online — I’ve been a major contributor to it. I cannot tell you how many weight loss shows and makeovers I have done and they have been a staple since I’ve been working in television.”

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Back in 1988, Oprah shocked viewers when she wheeled a wagon of fat onto the stage of her show, representing the weight she had shed through a liquid diet and intense exercise. She confessed she had gone months practically starving herself and went on to explain her struggle, saying, it “sent a message that starving yourself with a liquid diet and set a standard for people watching that I, nor anybody else, could uphold. The very next day, I began to gain the weight back.”

Oprah added: “I own what I’ve done, and now I want to do better.”

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They skipped his birthday—but tried to empty his account that same night

By
Monica Pop
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All Martin Rodriguez wanted for his birthday was to spend it together with his family. Nothing extravagant, no gifts, just the presence of the people that meant the world to him.

He texted his family a few days before, telling them the dinner starts at 6:00.

He spent days preparing the dishes his family loved most, his mom’s lemon chicken, his sister’s favorite rosemary potatoes, and his grandmother’s garlic bread. His 34th birthday celebration was meant to be a warm evening of laughter and togetherness.

But when the clock struck six, no one came. By seven, the candles had nearly burned out and his phone lit up with excuses. Apparently, the way to his house was too far for his sister. “Too far to drive,” she wrote casually, as though her brother wasn’t worth the effort of a 40 minute drive.

“Maybe next weekend, we are exhausted” his mother texted him.

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All the food just stayed there, untouched, and Martin was left with the painful truth, he meant less to them than he had believed.

For years, Martin had quietly supported his family through a savings account he called “The Martin Family Relief Foundation.”

He started it as an act of love, but that night, he realized that over time, it became a source of exploitation.

After thinking about it for some time while he sat there in the quiet room with no one he ever loved around, Martin decided to shut the account down.

“As of today, I am pausing all support. At midnight, the ATM is offline,” he sent a message to his family that he financed for years.

Not surprisingly, the fallout was immediate. His sister called him 12 times in a row, and he received messages of missed transfers made by his own mother.

They were angry at him, saying he wasn’t fair, with his mother even trying to guilt-trip him, writing that his father’s health was at stake with the stress he caused them by shutting the account down. “If something happens to him, it will be on you,” she wrote.

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But Martin had it enough, he finally realized that all he ever was to his family was just their personal ATM, nothing more.

After not replying to any of their calls and text that night, Martin sent his family a message first thing in the morning. “You’ve taken more than money. You’ve taken my time, my energy, and my peace. I gave without asking. You took without limits. As of today, I withdraw, too. The foundation is closed. I am no longer your financial plan. Happy belated birthday to me.”

That birthday marked a shift in Martin’s life. He stopped being the provider at his own expense and started reclaiming his peace. Now, months later, he speaks openly about the experience, reminding others that love without respect isn’t love at all.

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Before his death, Robert Redford shared what he really thought of Donald Trump

By
Monica Pop
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Robert Redford was a legendary force in Hollywood whose career spanned generations. He was best known for classics such as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Sting, All the President’s Men, and Out of Africa.

The Oscar-winning actor passed away aged 89, leaving fans mourning.

The news of his sudden death was shared by the chief executive of the publicity firm Rogers & Cowan PMK, Cindi Berger.

“Robert Redford passed away on September 16, 2025, at his home at Sundance in the mountains of Utah–the place he loved, surrounded by those he loved. He will be missed greatly,” Berger said in a statement. “The family requests privacy.”

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Among those who have sent their condolences was president Donald Trump.

“Robert Redford was great; he had a series of years where there was nobody better,” Trump said Tuesday while leaving the White House for his visit to the UK.

When a reporter informed the president that Redford had passed away in his sleep on Tuesday, Trump replied, “That’s a good way to go, I guess.”

Trump, however, didn’t address the late actor’s previous criticism of him.

In 2015, three years before Trump won the Presidential Election against Hillary Clinton, Redford appeared on Larry King Now, where he said of Trump, “Look he’s got such a big foot in his mouth, I’m not sure you’re going to get it out. But on the other hand, I’m glad he’s in there.”

Robert Redford continued: “I’m glad he’s in there because him being the way he is, and saying what he says the way he says it, I think shakes things up and I think that’s very needed. Because on the other side, it’s so bland, it’s so boring, it’s so empty.”

Trump took his time to respond to Redford’s comments.

“Wow! Such nice words from Robert Redford on my running for President. Thank you, Robert,” Trump said.

Later on, Redford made it clear that his comments didn’t mean he endorsed Trump. On the contrary, in a column for CNN, the Sundance Institute founder wrote that he was all-in for Biden in the November elections.

“Another four years of this would degrade our country beyond repair,” Redford warned.

Redford went on to say that under Trump, the United States had “lost its place as a world leader,” and that at home the president had “found every fault line in America and wrenched them wide open.” He argued that Biden would restore unity, empathy, experience, and intelligence to the White House, adding that the former vice president was “made for this moment,” Huff Post reported at the time.

“Biden leads with his heart. I don’t mean that in a soft and sentimental way,” Redford added. “I’m talking about a fierce compassion ― the kind that fuels him, that drives him to fight against racial and economic injustice, that won’t let him rest while people are struggling.”

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However, before Trump was impeached a second time, Redford wrote in The Washington Post that it should be up to voters—not impeachment—to remove him from the White House and the Oval Office.

“It is painfully clear we have a president who degrades everything he touches, a person who does not understand (or care?) that his duty is to defend our democracy,” Redford wrote.

In an NBC op-ed that year, Robert Redford called Donald Trump a threat to US democracy, saying, “We’re up against a crisis I never thought I’d see in my lifetime: a dictator-like attack by President Donald Trump on everything this country stands for.”

While he admitted it was fair to give Trump “a chance” at first, Redford argued that the president had undermined core democratic values like the rule of law and a free press, adding, “Instead of the United States of America, we are now defined as the Divided States of America.”

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Beets and kidney health: A natural boost for your later years

By
Monica Pop
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With age, your organs slow down and need more support to maintain optimal health. While lifestyle changes — and even medications at times — are crucial for your overall well-being as you get older, natural approaches can also do wonders.

Kidney health is a growing concern for older adults. According to the National Kidney Foundation, nearly 1 in 7 adults in the US, or about 37 million people, are living with chronic kidney disease, with many not even being aware of it.

For the elderly, healthy kidneys are especially important because they affect energy levels, blood pressure, and overall longevity.

One natural ally for healthy and well-functioning kidneys is the humble beet. With its deep red color and earthy flavor, beets have made their way into diets and dishes from all around the world.

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Today, research is highlighting the potential benefits of beet for kidney health. Beet juice, in particular, may help improve blood flow, provide antioxidants, and deliver key nutrients that support overall wellness.

Beets are rich in compounds like nitrates, which help improve circulation, and betalains, antioxidants that fight oxidative stress. They also provide potassium, folate, and vitamin C, all of which contribute to kidney and cardiovascular health.

For older adults, these nutrients can help compensate for the natural decline in circulation and detoxification that comes with age.

Adding beet juice to your daily routine is surprisingly simple.

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If you want to preserve most of the nutrients, have it in the form of raw juice.

You can also blend it with carrots, ginger, apples and lemon to enhance the flavor and add some additional vitamins.

If you don’t prefer it raw, you can have it cooked before making it into juice.

Many seniors who have included beet juice into their diet claim they feel more energetic and noticed improvements in lab results for blood pressure and kidney function.

Beyond kidneys, beet juice may also support brain function, energy, skin health, and digestion, making it a well-rounded addition to a senior’s diet.

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However, it’s important to start with small amounts, about half a glass, and keep existing health conditions in mind, especially kidney stones or blood pressure issues.

Before making any changes in your lifestyle or diet, it’s always for the best to consult your doctor first.

Truth is that no single drink can cure kidney disease, but beet juice offers a simple, natural way to nourish the body and support kidney function. By consuming it consistently, older adults may experience subtle but meaningful benefits that enhance vitality and well-being.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment and is for informational purposes only.

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Michael Keaton sparks outrage with controversial Charlie Kirk assassination comments

By
Monica Pop
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The news of Charlie Kirk’s tragic killing sent shockwaves throughout the world.

The 31-year-old conservative political activist, commentator, and Trump supporter was shot in the neck during a campus debate at Utah Valley University on September 10. He was shot with a single rifle shot from a rooftop around 200 yards away from where he was seated.

Authorities made an arrest in the case. The alleged killer, identified as 22-year-old Tyler Robinson from Utah, now “faces single counts of aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm, and violent offense in the presence of a child, along with two counts each of obstruction of justice and witness tampering,” People reported.

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While thousands are mourning Kirk’s passing, there have been a number of celebrities who made inappropriate comments about the tragic passing of the right-wing activist.

Dwayne Johnson’s daughter, Ava Raine, faced backlash for sharing a post that many saw as indirectly referencing Kirk, while UK punk band Bob Vylan openly labeled him a “piece of s***.” Meanwhile, MSNBC analyst Matthew Dowd was axed after discussing “hateful thoughts” in relation to Kirk.

Actor Michael Keaton has been among those who came under scrutiny online because of the comments made about Charlie Kirk.

At the Investigative Reporters and Editors’ 50th anniversary gala on Monday, September 15, the Pennsylvania-born actor noted the “irony” of Kirk’s death, given his pro-gun stance and frequent opposition to gun control. In his full remarks, Keaton seemed to both acknowledge Kirk’s family and reflect on the broader issue of gun violence.

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“Before we start to get into the meat of this thing, I’m going to take a minute to say that, regardless of how I probably — not probably — have disagreed with many things he said, Charlie Kirk leaves behind two kids and a wife,” he said in his speech. “You gotta remember that.

“Because in the end, shooting people will never answer anything, and the irony that he was killed with a gun is unbelievable.”

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Kirk’s fans labeled Keaton ‘a moron’ and ‘garbage’ for his remark.

“This right here is why sooo many people checked out of watching anything Hollywood creates,” one person wrote. “Third grade education on display again.”

Another added, “The only irony is that far left subhumans who scream for gun control keep using guns to hurt innocent law abiding Americans. Hypocrite.”

Truth is that few figures drew as much debate as Charlie Kirk did, and his death has only amplified the split in public opinion.

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Journalist takes brutal dig at Melania Trump over latest ‘Be Best’ initiative

By
Monica Pop
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First Lady Melania Trump attended a White House AI event, making an announcement about her “Be Best” campaign.

She shared her plans of helping America’s children navigate artificial intelligence responsibly, but her speech didn’t thrill everyone.

On the contrary, Melania received backlash from the public.

“America’s foster youth received a $30 million housing commitment in yesterday’s FY26 THUD appropriations bill,” Melania wrote.

“Thank you @rep_stevewomack and the House Appropriations Committee for supporting this key priority of Fostering the Future, a BE BEST initiative.”

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Instead of praising her efforts, many changed the subject and started demanding that her husband releases the Epstein files.

“Best release the EPSTEIN files!!!” someone commented. “Can you Be Best – and release the Epstein Files?!?!” another added. “Be best released the Epstein files,” another comment read.

“I really don’t care, do you?,” someone remarked on Melania’s infamous “I really don’t care” jacket, worn during her visit to a migrant child detention center in her husband’s first term.

At the meeting she hosted, Melania Trump discussed how parents can work with their children to use AI.

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“The robots are here. Our future is no longer science fiction,” Melania said. “As leaders and parents, we must manage AI’s growth responsibly. During this primitive stage, it is our duty to treat AI as we would our own children: empowering, but with watchful guidance.

“We are living in a moment of wonder,” Melania concluded. “And it is our responsibility to prepare the children of America.”

Following Melania’s appearance, Arwa Mahdawi of The Guardian suggested in an article that her involvement in AI could be motivated by factors beyond children’s welfare, claiming that the First Lady only cares about herself.

According to Mahdawi, Melania read “from a script encased in a very analogue binder,” and for that, she may “not be the best person to help manage AI’s growth responsibly and shield children from potential harm from the technology.”

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The journalist added: “But if she is keen on doing this work then I suggest she stop convening taskforces on how to integrate AI into childhood education, and simply ask her husband to stop gutting public education instead. The Trump administration is, for example, attempting to defund Head Start, a federally funded early childhood program for low-income families, and cancelled a grant program that has historically funded educational children’s programs like Sesame Street.”

She ended her piece by referencing Geoffrey Hinton, often called the “godfather of AI,” who warned in the Financial Times that the technology will enrich a small group while leaving most people worse off.

“Which, I suspect, is precisely why Melania Trump and the coterie of billionaires and tech executives gathered around her at the White House are so excited about it,” Mahdawi concluded.

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