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Olympic Runner, Who Fell During the Race, Finished With Help From an Unforgettable Person
Derek Redmond is now a retired sprinter with multiple accolades to his name, but at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, his story became one that fans shed a tear for. Over 20 years later, the heroic feat of finishing his semi-final run with the help of his father due to a devastating injury still tugs at the heart and became a part of Olympic history.
By the time the Olympics in Barcelona came around, Redmond was a favorite to take home gold in the 400m contest. His incredible track record proved he was ready to go all the way, having his best time set at 44.50 seconds in the 400m, which was a British record at the time. He won gold in the 4×400m relay at the 1991 World Championships and at the 1986 European Championships.
The only worry was that Redmond had already undergone five operations by 1992 and had recently undergone another surgery for his Achilles tendon only four months before the Games. He had initially pulled out of the 1988 Olympic Games due to the same injury.
Despite that, everything was coming together for the sprinter, and he recorded his fastest time during the first round. He also won his quarterfinal heat, which landed him in the semi-finals. Redmond was off to a good start until tragedy struck at the back straight about 250 metres from the finish.
The Olympic sprinter tore his hamstring just moments before the finish lineAn Olympic athlete's worst nightmare came true for Redmond when he tore his hamstring and fell to the ground. He stunned onlookers when he decided to continue the race after seeing a crew with stretchers coming towards him. Despite the pain from the injury, Redmond got up and began to hobble the rest of the track.
“I got up quicker than I got out of my blocks,” he said, according to The Guardian. “I said to myself: ‘There’s no way I’m going to be stretchered out of these Olympics.’ I didn’t know where I was. I really, really believed I could still qualify.”
What caught the attention of onlookers and fans worldwide was the heartfelt moment that occurred seconds later. His father, Jim Redmond, jumped from the stands and bypassed Olympic security to enter the track to get to his son. While a sobbing Redmond initially refused his father's help, the two made their way to the finish line hand-in-hand. Jim let go of his son moments before the finish to allow him to cross on his own. While their actions led to Redmond's disqualification from the Games, they got a standing ovation from a crowd of 65,000.
“Even now, it’s hard to say how or why I did it,” said Jim. “It was a spontaneous reaction, as if I had seen him hit by a car. I certainly didn’t run down to help him finish – if anything, it was to stop him. I could accept the fact that my son was injured, but not that he was going to carry on in pain, causing himself even greater damage.”
Fans saw the moment as one of grit and determination, as well as a father's love for his son. The event became the subject of one of the International Olympic Committee's "Celebrate Humanity" videos, which proclaimed: "Strength is measured in pounds. Speed is measured in seconds. Courage? You can't measure courage".
Due to his injuries, Redmond decided to focus on new chapters of his career and played professional basketball for the Birmingham Bullets and the England national team. He would also become a motivational speaker. Jimc carried the Olympic torch in 2012 and died years later in 2022.
Related: 1969 Folk Rock Ballad, Inspired by the Bible, Became a Timeless Anthem
'The Challenge' Season 42: Cast, Premiere Date, Trailer, How to Watch and More
The Challenge is back for its 42nd season, and this time the long-running MTV competition series is returning to one of its most famous themes.
Paramount+ announced that The Challenge: Cutthroat premieres August 5, bringing together 24 competitors from across reality TV for a team-based battle set in Thailand. The cast includes Challenge legends like Johnny Bananas, CT Tamburello, Cara Maria Sorbello and Tori Deal alongside newcomers from Big Brother, Survivor, Love Island, The Amazing Race and more.
Here's everything to know about The Challenge Season 42.
Watch the 'The Challenge: Cutthroat' Season 42 TrailerThe first trailer teases a return to the Cutthroat format, with three teams competing for a share of a $500,000 grand prize in Thailand.
When Does 'The Challenge' Season 42 Premiere?The Challenge: Cutthroat premieres Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026 at 3 a.m. ET/12 a.m. PT.
Where to Watch 'The Challenge' Season 42Season 42 streams exclusively on Paramount+. It is the first time the show is not airing weekly on MTV, but new episodes will debut weekly on Wednesdays at 3 a.m. ET/12 a.m. PT.
Where Was 'The Challenge: Cutthroat' Filmed?Season 42 was filmed entirely in Thailand, with the country's beaches, jungles and mountainous terrain serving as the backdrop for the competition.
What's the Theme for 'The Challenge' Season 42?The franchise is bringing back the Cutthroat format, which first debuted in season 20 back in 2010.
According to Paramount+, the 24 competitors will be split into three teams, with captains forced to balance leadership, loyalty and strategy. Unlike many recent seasons, contestants cannot win individually. Each team must cross the finish line together in order to split the $500,000 grand prize.
Solo-minded players will have to prove they can work with teammates, while captains risk losing their power if they fail to keep their teams united.
'The Challenge' Season 42 CastSeason 42 features 24 competitors, including returning Challenge veterans and first-time rookies from other reality show franchises.
Adrienne Naylor, 29 (Veteran) Adrienne NaylorJonne Roriz/Paramount+
- Finished fourth on Vets & New Threats.
- Won four elimination rounds during her rookie season.
- Former Miss Indiana USA and WWE NXT performer.
- Runner up of Deal or No Deal Island season 2.
- Making her Challenge debut.
Jonne Roriz/Paramount+
- Competed on The Amazing Race 35.
- Bringing her competitive reputation to her first Challenge season.
Jonne Roriz/Paramount+
- Original Cutthroat champion.
- Returns hoping his experience in the format helps lead another team to victory.
Jonne Roriz/Paramount+
- Two-time Challenge champion.
- Returns after sitting out last season.
- Chasing a third championship.
Jonne Roriz/Paramount+
- Runner-up on Survivor 43.
- Previously competed on The Challenge: USA 2.
Jonne Roriz/Paramount+
- Finalist on The Challenge: Vets & New Threats.
- Looking to improve on his rookie season with a championship run.
Jonne Roriz/Paramount+
- Five-time Challenge champion.
- One of the franchise's most decorated competitors.
- Returns looking to bounce back after a disappointing showing in Vets & New Threats.
Jonne Roriz/Paramount+
- Winner of Survivor: Edge of Extinction.
- Champion of The Challenge: USA 2.
- Looking to keep his undefeated Challenge streak alive.
Jonne Roriz/Paramount+
- Competing in his 12th season.
- Still searching for his first Challenge championship.
Jonne Roriz/Paramount+
- Fan favorite from Love Island USA season 4.
- Making her Challenge debut.
Jonne Roriz/Paramount+
- Competed on Vets & New Threats.
- Returns looking for a deeper run.
Jonne Roriz/Paramount+
- Seven-time Challenge champion.
- But he hasn't won since season 35 Total Madness back in 2020.
- Looking to end his title drought and capture an eighth victory.
Jonne Roriz/Paramount+
- Former Love Island USA contestant.
- Making his Challenge debut.
Jonne Roriz/Paramount+
- Competed on Vets & New Threats.
- Returns seeking redemption after falling just short of the final.
Jonne Roriz/Paramount+
- Fan favorite from Big Brother 27.
- Makes his Challenge debut after narrowly missing a BB victory.
Jonne Roriz/Paramount+
- Competed on Vets & New Threats.
- Known for his strategic gameplay and social maneuvering.
Jonne Roriz/Paramount+
- Four-time Challenge competitor.
- Former Survivor winner.
- Seeking her first Challenge win; came close to winning Battle of the Eras.
Jonne Roriz/Paramount+
- Nine-time Challenge competitor.
- Returns following his life-changing car accident.
- Hopes to inspire fellow amputees while chasing his first title.
Jonne Roriz/Paramount+
- Three-time Challenge competitor.
- Runner-up on Battle for a New Champion.
Jonne Roriz/Paramount+
- Former Big Brother 25 houseguest.
- Making her first Challenge appearance.
Jonne Roriz/Paramount+
- Runner-up on Vets & New Threats.
- Returns after an impressive rookie season.
Jonne Roriz/Paramount+
- Eight-time Challenge competitor.
- Former Ride or Dies champion.
- Looking to add another title to her résumé.
Jonne Roriz/Paramount+
- Competed on Vets & New Threats.
- Returns looking to turn last season's disappointment into a championship.
The Challenge: Cutthroat season 42 premieres Wednesday, August 5 at 3 a.m. ET/12 a.m. PT on Paramount+.
Related: 'The Challenge' Star Suffers Heartbreaking Loss: 'A Part of Me Went With Him'
Country Star Is Suddenly Climbing the Charts 12 Years After No. 1 Hit
Kenny Chesney is back on the Billboard Hot 100 in an unexpected return that comes 12 years after one of his biggest hits first dominated country radio.
The country superstar's 2014 single "American Kids" has re-entered the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 at No. 46, marking its first appearance on the chart since its original run more than a decade ago. The renewed momentum follows a surge in streams and social media activity tied to July 4 celebrations across the United States.
The song's return arrives during another strong year for country music and gives Chesney another major chart moment after decades as one of the genre's biggest names.
Originally released in June 2014 as the lead single from The Big Revival, "American Kids" became one of the defining songs of that summer. The track eventually climbed to No. 23 on the Billboard Hot 100, reached No. 1 on Country Airplay and peaked at No. 2 on Hot Country Songs.
Kenny Chesney performs onstage during the 59th Annual Country Music Association Awards at Bridgestone Arena on Nov. 19, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee.Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for CMA
Now, 12 years later, it is finding a new audience while reconnecting longtime fans with one of Chesney's signature songs.
The resurgence also comes as the singer prepares for a major new exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, where the colorful school bus featured in the "American Kids" music video will be displayed for fans later this month.
The return of "American Kids" mirrors a broader trend of older country hits finding fresh success through streaming services and social media platforms.
Billboard's latest chart shows both Chesney and Zac Brown Band returning to the Hot 100 after Independence Day celebrations helped drive listeners back to songs closely connected with American summers and small-town memories.
View this post on InstagramFor Chesney, the comeback is especially notable because "American Kids" arrived during a major turning point in his career.
The song introduced The Big Revival, an album that followed a rare year away from touring as Chesney focused on creating a project that felt different from his previous releases.
Speaking about the record in 2015, according to CBS News, Chesney explained why he stepped away from the road.
"It would have been very easy for us to make this record on a conveyor belt, because I've been guilty of that before. But I felt like I was at a place in my life where I deserve more and [the fans] deserve more."
He added: "It was worth really digging into what I wanted the record to be and to see how I was going to take my audience to a place that maybe collectively we haven't been before."
That search led him to "American Kids," written by Rodney Clawson, Luke Laird and Shane McAnally.
Chesney immediately knew the song stood apart from many others arriving in Nashville at the time.
"'American Kids' was that one thing that I was looking for that was different," Chesney said.
"There' s not that many of those songs around. We're an industry of chasers and copycats, we really are. That's just the way it is. And when you hear something completely different… I knew when I heard that song, that I was going to record it."
The song focused on growing up in small towns, chasing dreams and learning who you are.
The music video became another memorable part of the release. Directed by Shaun Silva, it featured Chesney performing with a group of young people aboard a brightly painted school bus.
The bus later became closely tied to the song and the album itself.
"That 'American Kids' bus, we painted it," Chesney said. "That was the best therapy I've had all year, painting that bus."
Fans will soon have the chance to see that same bus in person as part of the upcoming "Kenny Chesney: Living in Fast Forward" exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.
The exhibit opens July 23, 2026, and will trace Chesney's journey from performing in his university bluegrass band to becoming one of the highest-grossing touring artists in country music history.
As "American Kids" climbs the charts once again, the song is proving that some summer anthems never completely disappear.
Sometimes they simply wait for a new generation to press play.
Related: Beloved Country Band’s No. 1 Hit Re-Enters Billboard Chart 17 Years Later
Erling Haaland Has a Message for Tom Holland After Ignoring His DM
Erling Haaland may have leftTom Holland on read—but it looks like the two are finally getting that dinner after all.
Just days after the Spider-Man star admitted on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon that his attempt to befriend the Norwegian soccer sensation had gone unanswered, Haaland chimed in with a response of his own.
Commenting on the show’s Instagram post about the interview, the Manchester City striker wrote, "Dinner invitation accepted @tomholland2013. A little late 😅 Just name the place!"
Fans were quick to chime in on the exchange.
“better late than never,” one wrote.
“too busy smashing it at the World Cup 👊💯,” another noted.
A third said, “Are my eyes deceiving me? HAALAND YOU GOTTA DO A VLOG MEETING HOLLAND.”
Earlier this week, Holland, 30, confessed that he slid into Haaland's DMs after spotting him across the way at the Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix. Hoping to connect, the actor invited the soccer star to dinner—but never heard back.
According to the internet, Haaland isn't an avid movie watcher and reportedly didn't know who Holland was.
READ MORE: Erling Haaland Goes Viral for Dancing at Popular Miami Club Before ‘Emotional’ U.S. Goodbye
"Yes [I DM'd him], and I'll tell you what. That is exactly the type of humbling experience that is important for actors," Holland joked. He added, "You're like, 'I'll text him. I'll take him to dinner.' Not even a response. Not an excuse. Not, 'I'm busy tonight, I'm playing football.' Nada."
Rather than taking it personally, Holland laughed the whole thing off and even praised Haaland, calling the 25-year-old "incredible" and "an absolute legend," despite England knocking Norway out of the FIFA World Cup quarterfinals just days earlier.
Whether the pair actually end up sharing a meal remains to be seen, but at least the invitation is no longer sitting unanswered.
Related: Yes, Erling Haaland Has a Girlfriend — Here’s How She’s Supporting Him at the World Cup
Intruder Arrested After Breaking Into 'Today' Studio
A man was arrested after breaking into the Today Show’s studio in New York City on Thursday, July 16, TMZ reports.
He confronted Craig Melvin, lunging at him. The man was also said to be asking for Al Roker, with law enforcement sources telling the outlet that he managed to get past security. When he couldn't find Roker, he turned his attention to Craig and yelled racial slurs at the co-host.
The incident occurred around 9 a.m. ET, with the man being described as "white and was unarmed." He "entered a stairwell and made his way backstage -- we're told near the dressing room, though where exactly is unclear."
The incident did not occur during the broadcast, and nobody was injured. A photo obtained by TMZ showed Melvin, Roker, and co-host Dylan Dreyer looking shaken as they talked following the incident. But they were back on air 15 minutes later.
"We're told the incident has staff demanding answers about how an unauthorized stranger managed to trail one of the show’s biggest stars off the publicly accessible plaza and get so deep inside the building undetected," TMZ added.
The NYPD released a statement regarding the situation, saying that "it was reported to officers that there was a disorderly person inside 30 Rockefeller Center, within the confines of the Midtown North Precinct. Officers responded and placed an unidentified individual into custody. There were no injuries reported. The investigation remains ongoing," per PEOPLE.
This comes on the same day host Savannah Guthrie revealed she will be temporarily stepping away from the show to film something news.
“We’re about to do it. Guys, I’m headed over to shoot Wordle over the next few weeks,” Guthrie said. “We’re going to shoot the whole season and we’re super excited.”
“I can’t wait for everyone to see it. It’ll probably air, I think, in the new year," she added.
'70s Rock Band Announces First New Album in 12 Years
Legendary rock band Echo & the Bunnymen have announced its upcoming 13th studio album, Apples For Isaac.
The band's first record in 12 years, Apples For Isaac, is set for release on Sept. 18 and will feature 11 new tracks. Its haunting lead single, "Brussels Is Haunted," was released on July 16 along with an accompanying music video.
Produced by singer Ian McCulloch, Apples For Isaac will feature instrumentals from the late Blondie drummer Clem Burke on ten out of 11 of the tracks, with the band noting that Burke was a key part of the new record.
A statement read: "The mighty, legendary Clem Burke — longtime friend of Mac — was integral to the making of the album, and heartbreakingly passed away during its completion… love you Clem X".
Ahead of the album's release, the band will play a handful of shows across the U.K. and Europe, including some free shows in Northern Spain. During release week, the band will be headlining two shows at the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre in London on Sept. 22 and 23.
In June, the band was forced to postpone a concert at the iconic Fillmore Philadelphia after McCulloch was involved in a road traffic accident.
“As a result, Ian required medical treatment,” an Instagram post read. “Thankfully, the injuries sustained are not believed to be serious; however, as you can appreciate, he has been left understandably shaken by the incident. As a precautionary measure, Ian is undergoing further medical assessment, including scans and X-rays.”
Formed in Liverpool in 1978, Echo & the Bunnymen found fame with the release of their 1980 debut album Crocodiles. In 1983, the band saw mainstream success with "The Cutter," which peaked at No. 8 on the U.K. Official Singles Chart. A few years later, in 1987, the rockers broke international waters and became a household name with the release of "Lips Like Sugar, which reached No. 36 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.
Related: 2000s Rock Band Releases First New Song in 16 Years
Dollar Tree Shoppers Love These Stoneware Bowls They Say 'Look Expensive' but Are Only $1.50
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I've never exactly been subtle about my love for colorful kitchen gadgets or dinnerware covered in cheerful florals and romantic prints. If there's a mixing bowl in a pretty pastel or a mug with a charming pattern on it, chances are it's already somewhere in a cabinet. Those little pops of personality make everyday cooking and dining feel a bit more special.
That said, even I know there's a time to let the dishes take a back seat. If I've spent hours simmering a homemade sauce, decorating a cake, or putting together a dinner I'm genuinely proud of, I want all eyes on the food — not the plate underneath it. That's where simple white dishware really earns its place in the cabinet.
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Royal Norfolk Contemporary White Square Stoneware Bowls, $1.50 at Dollar TreeDollar Tree
Shop It!Clean lines and a classic finish make a colorful salad or cozy bowl of pasta look even more appetizing. These Royal Norfolk Contemporary White Square Stoneware Bowls at Dollar Tree are timeless and versatile, and they look a little more expensive than they actually are. Which explains why shoppers are so excited about them — they're the kind of understated basics that make every meal look like the star of the show.
Related: Ninja Is Dropping a First-of-Its-Kind Countertop Appliance You'll Want In Your Kitchen Now
The eight-inch bowls are made of stoneware, which means they're super sturdy while still having a lovely, glossy glaze. And at $1.50 each, you can buy a full set of eight for only $12. Of course, if you can't find these in stock at your local store, you'll have to order them online from Dollar Tree for shipping. The retailer only lets you do so in a set of 12, which costs $18. Still, that's a nice price for such an elegant-looking bowl.
"I love these bowls so much," says a Dollar Tree shopper in their review. "They look like a much more expensive brand, and they are more durable to boot. I can use them for so many different kinds of meals, and they wash clean easily. And if I accidentally chip one, I can always get more easily at any DT, so they're an ideal option when I want to keep a nice bowl at work. I always get complements on the square shape being eye catching."
Stoneware is typically dishwasher-friendly, so you don't have to worry about handwashing if you'd rather just stick it in the machine and let it take care of the cleaning. And after an evening of cooking, that sounds like a dream.
Related: Marshalls' Stunning Stoneware Casserole Dish Comes From a Beloved Brand and It's Only $25
Here's Why 'Aquatic Notes' Are 1 of Summer 2026's Biggest Perfume Trends, Fragrance Experts Say
Parade aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.
Finding the right fragrance for the right moment feels like both an art and a science. If you want to try a new seasonal scent, how do you choose? Fortunately, experts are revealing the top summer 2026 perfume trends to keep in mind.
Trends shift all the time and the perfume options are vast. Not to mention summer has its own specific demands for perfume: heat amplifies fragrance, humidity changes how notes wear and the last thing anyone wants is a perfume that feels oppressive when it's 90 degrees outside.
To understand this summer's fragrance trends, including what bottles are worth trying and what may fit your personal taste, we spoke with Kershen Teo, founder and perfumer at Prosody London, a botanical fragrance house known for working exclusively with 100% natural ingredients.
Teo considers a client's specific needs, and often works with customers who may want to shift away from mainstream designer scents. His perspective on what's trending right now goes beyond the obvious picks. "The throughline this summer is a move away from performance and toward presence," he says. "People want to be asked what they're wearing, not told."
We also chatted with fragrance expert Olivia VanDerMillen, a.k.a Olivia Olfactory on Instagram with over 615k followers, to get a couple of her favorite fragrances that fall under the seven most popular fragrance trends of summer 2026.
Related: 11 Perfumes Women Over 50 Get the Most Compliments On, According to Fragrance Experts
Top Summer 2026 Perfume Trends- Aquatic and atmospheric scents
- Skin musks
- Summer gourmands
- Unexpected botanicals
- Body mists and hair perfumes
- Breezy citrus
- Zen and minimalist scents
Related: 9 Perfumes Women Over 50 Are Obsessed With Right Now, According to a Fragrance Expert
How To Make Your Summer Perfume Last LongerGetting the trend right is only half the equation—keeping it on your skin in summer heat is the other.
"Moisturised skin holds fragrance significantly longer than dry skin, and in summer heat, skin dries out faster than people realise," Teo says.
His advice is to apply an unscented, oil-free moisturiser to pulse points before spraying, then reapply lightly at the collarbone or wrists mid-afternoon rather than saturating yourself in the morning.
Related: A Perfumer Says This Is the Best Place To Apply Fragrance
7 Best Summer Perfume Trends of 2026Here's what fragrance experts say are the biggest scent trends of the summer.
1. Aquatic and atmospheric scentsAquatic scents are a top trend of the moment. But what exactly is an "aquatic scent"?
Aquatic fragrances are built around notes that evoke water: sea spray, ocean air, rain on warm pavement or the mineral coolness of a mountain stream. They tend to be fresh and clean without being citrusy, with a slightly abstract quality that's hard to pin down, but immediately recognizable.
"There's now a well-established field of research on what scientists call 'blue space,' there's genuine, measurable evidence that proximity to water lowers stress and restores mental fatigue in a way green spaces don't quite replicate," Teo tells Parade. "When a fragrance evokes open water, it's not offering literal coolness, it's tapping into a real, well-documented psychological association between water and restoration."
The category has also evolved well beyond the clean marine scents of the 1990s. Atmospheric notes like moss and minerals are showing up alongside or in place of traditional aquatic notes, giving these fragrances more texture and depth than their predecessors.
Black Salt by Heretic, $165Bloomingdale's
Shop It at Bloomingdale'sThis is VanDerMillen's pick for best aquatic at the moment. It "smells like sea foam rolling over the rocky shoreline during a midnight thunderstorm. Briny yet fresh with lime and eucalyptus," she says.
Whistle Moon by Prosody London, $93Prosody London
Shop It at Prosody LondonThis is Teo's own aquatic creation, which is "cool, with a neroli lift and myrrh depth," he explains.
2. Skin musks that are quiet and personalThe skin-scent category isn't new, but it's gaining popularity this summer. "The move toward skin scents is built on natural skin musk rather than synthetic projection," Teo says.
"I don't think this is a passing seasonal trend—it's a genuine, permanent recalibration of what people want fragrance to do for them, and ambrette seed is quietly at the centre of that shift—it's one of the only botanical materials capable of the close, low-projection warmth people are increasingly asking for," he adds.
Fleur de Peau by Diptyque, $260Bluemercury
Shop It at BluemercuryTeo chooses Fleur de Peau by Diptyque, one of the most acclaimed skin musks in modern perfumery. It features "ambrette alongside iris and pink peppercorn to build exactly this kind of intimate, skin-close musk," he says.
"My own Carissis takes a different route to the same idea—a lavender and ambrette seed skin scent that replaces the role synthetic musks usually play, staying close to the body rather than projecting outward," he adds.
Another 13 by Le Labo, $250Le Labo
Shop It at Le Labo"My favorite 'your skin but better' scent will always be Another 13 by Le Labo," VanDerMillen says. "I often describe it as smelling like the pheromones of the person you’re most attracted to, like they somehow captured the essence of your lover in a bottle."
3. Summer gourmands that are lighter than you'd expectGourmand fragrances have traditionally been fall and winter territory, but the category is making a convincing case for summer, with one distinction.
"Most gourmand fragrances lean on vanilla, and while I'm not against vanilla in summer outright, it often ends up feeling too heavy for the heat," Teo says.
Virgin Island Water by Creed, $360Bloomingdale's
Shop It at Bloomingdale's"The right balance for a summer gourmand is closer to what Creed does with Virgin Island Water—coconut, lime and sugar cane, with no vanilla in the formula at all," Teo says. "That's exactly why it reads as tropical and fresh rather than as a dessert."
llúsio by Parfums de LuxeValencia Perfumes
Shop It at Valencia PerfumesVanilla can still work in the summer when handled with restraint. Teo points to Illúsio by Parfums de Luxe as a good example, explaining, "Summer gourmand succeeds when it feels like something you'd eat on a beach, not something you'd eat by a fire."
4. Unexpected botanicalsPistachio, wasabi, shiso leaf, mate—the notes gaining traction this summer are not the predictable fruit basket.
"What people are responding to is a genuine appetite for fragrance that surprises rather than confirms," Teo tells Parade. "They want to smell something and think, 'Wait, what is that?' rather than immediately clock it as vanilla or rose."
Un Jardin À Cythère by Hermes, $170Nordstrom
Shop It at Nordstrom"Hermès returned to pistachio in Un Jardin à Cythère, twenty years after first introducing the note—proof it was never a one-off, right as pistachio has become one of the fastest-growing notes in the industry. Spate's 2026 Fragrance Report clocked its growth at over 850%," Teo says.
Wasabi Shiso by DSH Perfumes, $70American Perfumer
Shop It at American PerfumerMeanwhile, indie houses have been ahead of the curve for years: DSH Perfumes' Wasabi Shiso is built around real wasabi and shiso leaf alongside yuzu and green tea.
"It has a devoted following," Teo says.
5. Body mists and hair perfumes as layering toolsTeo recommends using a light hair mist alongside a skin-close eau de parfum (EDP) instead of just one—treating them as layering tools rather than replacements.
"Hair actually holds top notes better and longer than skin does, which in summer heat is often more pleasant than a strong EDP reapplied to already-warm skin," he says.
St. Barts Hair and Body Fragrance by OUAI, $38OUAI
Shop It at OUAI"A good example of the category done well is OUAI's St.Barts Hair and Body Mist, built around tropical dragon fruit, orange blossom and musk. It's designed specifically to evoke a beach-vacation feeling rather than just repackaging a skin fragrance," Teo tells Parade.
Related: The 5 Best Fragrance Layering Methods (and 3 To Skip)
6. Breezy citrus, which is backed by scienceThe pull toward citrus in summer isn't just habit. "A controlled study found that citrus aromas specifically produce measurable relaxation-related brain activity," Teo explains.
"What's really happening with citrus is decades of sensory conditioning—we've spent our whole lives associating it with cold drinks, clean laundry and the first warm day of the year," he adds.
L'Eau Chic by Nicolai, $175Beautyhabit
Shop It at BeautyhabitThe best summer citrus fragrances build depth through green, herbal or mineral elements that keep the freshness from evaporating quickly. Teo calls this pick "zesty and energetic."
7. Minimalist scents with single notes that are done wellTeo says a return to simplicity is one of the best trends of the summer. Rather than complex, multi-layered compositions built for projection, these fragrances strip back to one or two notes and let them do all the work: green tea, mint, lavender, a single botanical executed with real precision.
Menthe Fraîche by Heeley, $195Heeley
Shop It at HeeleyHe picks a mint fragrance to illustrate the minimalist scent. Menthe Fraiche starts as a crisp mint and evolves to a subtle, warmer mint with notes of green tea.
Up Next:
Related: 11 Korean Fragrance Brands a Perfume Expert Wishes More People Knew About
Sources:- Kershen Teo, founder and perfumer at Prosody London
- Olivia VanDerMillen, a.k.a Olivia Olfactory, fragrance expert
The Spirit Guide Meant to Guide You, Based on Your Birth Date
Have you ever felt someone watching over you, providing protection, support, and encouragement during crucial moments in your life? These warm, energetic embraces are coming from your spirit guides, the non-physical entities who are unconditionally guiding you every step of the way. While we all have a spiritual team inspiring personal strength and growth, a specific guide within this team carries high importance. This guide is connected to the energies you were first exposed to at the exact moment you were born, which are defined by the sacred relationship between astrology and numerology.
View this post on Instagram Which Spirit Guide Watches Over You, According To The Day You Were BornCheck for the day you were born; disregard birth months.
✦ Learn more about your birth datenumerology ✦
Born on the…
1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th | 10th
11th |12th | 13th | 14th | 15th | 16th | 17th | 18th | 19th |20th
21st | 22nd |23rd | 24th | 25th | 26th | 27th | 28th | 29th | 30th | 31st
Birth Dates 1, 10, 19, 28 – Star BeingsBeing born on a date ruled by the Sun, the star of our solar system, means your spirit guides are star beings. Connecting with you from other star systems—like Sirius or Alcyone in the Pleiades—these star beings guide you in fulfilling your life purpose. They specifically communicate with you in moments of pure joy or when you’re closer to unraveling something about yourself you didn’t know before.
RELATED: These 4 Birth Dates Are Always Led by Their Higher Self
With the magical Moon guiding your birth date, you’re someone whose family ties hold great transformational power. Your ancestors, specifically those in your maternal lineage, are working behind the scenes on your behalf. They provide guidance on how to navigate life’s mundane ups and downs. At a deeper level, they also guide you in healing generational karma and activating your inherited gifts.
Birth Dates 3, 12, 21, 30 – Global Pantheons and DeitiesBeing born on a birth date ruled by Jupiter means your spirit guides communicate with you through archetypes that persist across sacred mythologies worldwide. When you’re learning about the gods of ancient Greece, Egypt, India, or Mesoamerica, you may notice little nuggets of wisdom being delivered to you. As you find resonance between mythology and your own life, you’re guided towards self-knowledge and empowerment.
READ: Which Classic Sitcom Are You? Find Your Match, Based on Your Birth Month
Birth Dates 4, 13, 22, 31 – Galactic GuidesIf you were born on a date ruled by Uranus, you vibrate at a much higher frequency than most people. Your open mind and keen intuition help you decode messages from otherworldly galactic souls. At times, you may have dreams and even meditations in which you’re delivered specific messages. Via synchronicity, these galactic beings may guide you towards healers who can perform either energetic or even past-life healings.
Birth Dates 5, 14, 23 – ArchangelsBeing born on a date ruled by Mercury puts you under the guidance of Archangels. These high-ranking, chief celestial beings who oversee major global spiritual missions communicate when your participation is required. You may hear Archangels Michael, Gabriel, or Raphael inspiring you to join their missions or causes by using your unique gifts and talents.
Birth Dates 6, 15, 24 – GoddessesWith Venus ruling over your birth date, your spirit guides adopt the form of goddesses. You’ll notice these ancient mythological archetypes communicating with you in quiet, beautiful ways. The Egyptian goddess Isis may guide you during a moment of deep healing. Or perhaps Athena may support you when your intelligence and strategic sense are being tested. Aphrodite herself may also show up in moments of doubt, inspiring you to open your heart.
FUN: Which Iced Coffee Are You, Based on Your Birth Month?
Birth Dates 7, 16, 25 – GhostsIf you were born on a date ruled by Neptune, the dissolution of boundaries plays a key role in how you receive spiritual guidance. When physically in a place, you may feel or see someone watching over you. The voice or presence of this ethereal being may guide you in understanding a specific event and how to approach it. Unlike ancestors, spirit-guide ghosts seek to help others understand the stories behind specific places, situations, and people.
Birth Dates 8, 17, 26 – Ascended MastersIf Saturn, the teacherplanet, rules your birth date, your spirit guides are humans who lived on Earth before transcending karma and mastering the cycle of reincarnation. Ascended masters like Mother Mary, Buddha, Quan Yin, and Jesus may guide you in mastering some of your life’s hardest lessons. Via intuition, dreams, and meditation, they guide you in overcoming obstacles and becoming the strongest version of yourself.
EXPAND: These 4 Birth Dates Have the Soul of a Saint
Birth Dates 9, 18, 27 – Power AnimalsIf you were born on a date ruled by Mars, your intuition has roots in instinct. Your spiritual mentors are power animals, guiding you in embodying specific traits, behaviors, and even lessons. Regardless of how they show up for you—in person, in dreams, or in your favorite oracle deck—they give you the courage to overcome the obstacles you face at any given moment.
UP NEXT:
1972 Folk Ballad, Written in a Car, Remains a Nostalgic Classic 54 Years Later
Though it's often associated with his close friend Steve Goodman, John Prine wrote one of his most beloved folk ballads, "Souvenirs," entirely on his own while riding in a car.
The country-folk musician was well-known in his career for his humorous lyrics about love, life, and current events. His debut 1971 album gave way to his biggest hits like "Paradise," "Angel of Montgomery," and another that never made it into the roster.
"Souvenirs" was written while Prine was working on the album, but, according to American Songwriter, he was told it wasn't needed. Prine explained that "They just said no, that’s okay, John, we got enough." Feeling as though the ballad was needed, he instead relegated it to his second album, Diamonds in the Rough, released in 1972.
The entire album was created with only $7,200 and some beer, and it was exactly what Prine wanted. He created it the way "I was used to playing music at my house with Dave [Prine] and Steve [Goodman].” When it came to the ballad, he ended up writing a sorrowful recognition of time passing, an incredible feat as he was only in his 20s at the time.
Prince came up with "Souvenirs" while in his '65 Chevelle Malibu, driving to a Chicago club called Fifth Peg. The singer recalls having performed on an open stage and being asked to come back the following week, and was soon asked by the owner to become a Thursday regular.
"And that night the owner asked me if I wanted to sing once a week. I didn’t know I was auditioning. I didn’t know what to do, how long you’re supposed to sing or anything," he explained. "So I went home and wrote a bunch of songs to fill in the time. They told me to do three sets of 45 minutes. So about the fifth time I was driving down there I thought, God, the same people are gonna be sitting there. I better have a new song."
"So I wrote 'Souvenirs' in the car on the way down. And then I thought I’d come up with a melody. I thought I had come up with a pretty sophisticated melody in my head, and I was surprised to find out it had the same three chords that all my other songs have! [Laughter]Really surprised. I thought I had written a jazz melody!" he added.
When it came to the track's inspiration, Prine doesn't know exactly where it came from. His older brother once asked him, and the singer remembered a buried emotion from a memory of when he was scared of never seeing his brother again after he got lost at a carnival.
"Souvenirs" became not only associated with Prine but also with his longtime friend and musician Goodman. He provided the signature guitar arrangement, and the two would often perform the song together as a duet for decades.
Related: 1969 Folk Ballad, Written During an Airport Layover, Became a Nostalgic No. 1 Classic
Best-Selling Author Reveals Newest 1970s Novel About Female Friendship, Expected Next Year
Best-selling author of historical romance and more, Taylor Jenkins Reid, has officially announced her newest release after teasing it earlier this month on social media.
Her newest novel, The Last Days of Vic & Coco, will be published on March 2nd, 2027.
View this post on InstagramSpeaking exclusively to Elle, Jenkins Reid admitted she thought after her 2025 novel, Atmosphere, she'd take more of a break. However, when the idea for "Pool Hustlers" came into her head during a shower, she knew she had to pursue it. And when Jenkins Reid gets an idea, she feels utterly compelled to chase it and turn it into a story.
According to Jenkins Reid, The Last Days of Vic & Coco is about “two female pool hustlers on the road in the 1970s, tricking men out of their money. And in the summer of 1974, for reasons that will be revealed, they settle down in a small town called Canyonville, Arizona. And when they do, Vic starts to fall in love and Coco starts lying about exactly what she’s up to. And both of those things are going to send them on a collision course to realize that the gambit is up and they can’t continue this way any further.”
Speaking further to the themes of the novel and her process in the interview, Jenkins Reid says she didn't do as much research as normal because while pool is part of the book, the relationship between the main characters is the main point. The Last Days of Vic & Coco is about female friendship and the ways women platonically love each other and can devastate one another.
Jenkins Reid is no stranger to a smash hit. Her 2019 novel, Daisy Jones & The Six, was a bestseller and developed into a hit series for Amazon Prime. Her sweeping historical romance novel The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo was a bestseller and frequently reappears on "Most Read" lists. The film adaptation is set to be directed by Anna Kendrick. Her last release, Atomsphere, was a number one New York Times bestseller, is still one of the most read books of the year, and is also slated to become a film.
The Last Days of Vic & Coco is available for preorder now.
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Related: Best-Selling Historical Romance Is Ranked the No. 2 ‘Most Read Book of 2026’ by Goodreads
J.K. Simmons Finally Breaks Silence On Bizarre 'Batgirl' Cancellation
J.K. Simmons spent months in Scotland playing Commissioner Gordon in a Batgirl movie that was fully shot, deep in post-production, and then erased from existence. Four years later, he still hasn't seen a single minute of the finished movie.
The actor addressed the film's infamous 2022 cancellation during a conversation on Josh Horowitz's Happy Sad Confused podcast, where he called it "one of the strangest stories" in his career. Asked directly whether he'd ever watched the finished movie, Simmons was blunt: "No."
Warner Bros. Discovery scrapped the nearly $90 million film just weeks before its planned release, choosing a tax write-down over putting it in theaters or on HBO Max. The decision, made under new CEO David Zaslav, stunned Hollywood and drew public frustration from star Leslie Grace, who played the title role opposite Michael Keaton's Batman and Simmons' Commissioner Gordon.
Simmons rejected the primary reason rumored for the movie's demise, namely that it had been deemed "irredeemable" by those who saw it. "Apparently one test audience saw it, and it's not like it was a bad score from the test audience," he said on the podcast. "It was a whatever, a business decision." He drew a contrast with his other DC work, noting that Justice League "had its own drama attached to it" before Zack Snyder's director's cut later won over fans, "which is really, you know, a lot of fun."
Despite the film's fate, Simmons spoke fondly of the experience itself, including his time with directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah. "We really had a good time making it," he said, "and thought it was going to be a fun superhero movie." He called stepping into the role "an exciting prospect to be part of the origin story of Batgirl."
The film's cancellation remains a rare case of a studio abandoning a nearly complete, big-budget movie for financial reasons rather than creative ones, a decision Warner Bros. Discovery attributed to a "strategic shift" around the DC universe and HBO Max. Grace, El Arbi and Fallah have all previously voiced public disappointment, with the directors writing on Instagram that they were "saddened and shocked" and hoped fans might someday see the film.
Simmons just seems bemused by the whole debacle. Asked whether he'd ever glimpsed so much as a rough cut, his again answered with J Jonah Jameson bluntness: "It doesn't exist. It's in a vacuum." He didn't press for more, and he doesn't sound like he plans to. With The Westies now streaming and Invincible still drawing new fans his way, Batgirl remains one credit among more than 200 that he's simply learned to let go.
Hobby Lobby's Rustic $2 Table Decor Adds Farmhouse Charm to Every Meal
If you're on the hunt for easy and affordable ways to elevate your home, look no further than your local Hobby Lobby. It's here where you'll discover a wide range of hidden gems, from charming home and garden accents and craft staples to kitchen upgrades, everyday essentials and more.
With summer in full swing and plenty of friends and family gatherings filling up your calendar, there's really no better time to refresh your dinner table, and Hobby Lobby's Rustic Wood Grain Charger Plate is the perfect place to start. Retailing for just $2 and boasting natural farmhouse charm, this lightweight and durable table upgrade elevates any tablescape with ease, making it ideal for everyday meals and special occasions alike.
Rustic Wood Grain Charger Plate, $1.99 at Hobby LobbyWhether you're going for a full farmhouse theme or simply want to add a rustic touch to your existing tablescape, Hobby Lobby's Rustic Wood Grain Charger Plate is the perfect tool for the job. Even better, its affordable $2 price tag makes it easy to snag multiples and build a complete set.
With a 13-inch diameter and a realistic brown wood grain finish, this charger plate features a shallow well in the center for a clean, understated look that pairs beautifully with everything from salad bowls and dinner plates to serving platters and seasonal centerpieces. Made of durable plastic, it's also easy to clean and maintain while offering the look of wood without the worry of natural blemishes or extra upkeep.
Related: Sam's Club's $33 Kitchen Upgrade Is 'Sturdy, Stylish' and Perfect for Taming Clutter
What Shoppers Are Saying"Great way to add style to your table," one fan shared in a review, noting that "it added some class without costing too much."
"We bought 40 in store and ordered 40 more online," another shopper revealed, explaining that they'll be using them for a rustic wedding.
Others chimed in to echo the sentiment, with one shopper describing the wood-grain design as "realistic" and another calling them "sturdy, beautiful," and a great price.
Truly one of those kitchen upgrades you'll reach for again and again, this charger plate isn't just an easy way to get creative with your seasonal dinner parties; it also lets you give your meals an elevated look with minimal effort. And while it might be tempting, just remember that it is not intended for food use, but rather an elegant accent to hold the vessel from which your meals are served.
Snag one or create a set while it's still in stock and watch as your dinner displays become warmer and more inviting with almost zero effort. And if you need more home and kitchen inspiration, don't forget to check out Hobby Lobby's beautiful $40 boho side table and charming Light Oak TV Stand.
Survey Says! Here's Who's Guest Starring on 'Celebrity Family Feud' This Week
Every Monday, people look forward to the weekend. We, however, look forward to Thursday nights because Celebrity Family Feud airs. We also love a good game show and can't resist competing from the comfort of our living room. Steve Harvey has been hosting Celebrity Family Feud since 2015, and the show has seen the likes of guest stars like the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, the cast of Good Trouble, Sabrina Bryan, Stephen Curry and so many more celebrities. Unlike Family Feud, Celebrity Family Feud features celebrities competing for a $25,000 grand prize donated to a charity of their choice, while Family Feud has families competing for a cash prize and a vacation.
Celebrity Family Feud airs every Thursday, which means that every week you can watch your favorite celebs and athletes battle it out for the prize. There is a wide range of questions celebrities answer, very similar to those on Family Feud.
Who Is Guest Starring This Week?This week, celebrity contestants include Sheila E vs. En Vogue and Lisa Lisa vs. Taylor Dayne. Last week’s guest stars were the AFC Champions (American Football Conference) vs. the NFC Champions (National Football Conference). Season 12’s first episode just premiered last week, on June 9, so be sure to catch up on last week’s episode before watching it tonight.
Just Jared has also released the contestant lineup for this season of Celebrity Family Feud, so expect to see a wide range of stars, including 2 Chainz, Steve Aoki, Julie Bowen, Bow Wow, American Idolcontestants, Team USA Women’s Hockey players, and many more celebrities and athletes.
How to Watch 'Celebrity Family Feud'Celebrity Family Feud airs on ABC on Thursdays at 8:00 P.M. ET/ 7:00 P.M. CT. Episodes are also available to stream on Hulu and Disney+ the next day. If you have subscriptions to YouTube TV, fuboTV and Sling TV, you can also watch episodes on those platforms. Tune in every Thursday to watch your favorite celebrities test their knowledge for a good cause.
View this post on InstagramCole Haan's 'Classy' and 'Comfortable' Sandals Are Nearly 70% Off, and 'Perfect' for Narrow Feet
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Whether you're traveling this summer or just planning on hitting the town with your friends, it's helpful to invest in shoes that you can count on. Especially with the seasonal heat, you'll want footwear that's breathable, comfortable, and stylish. Thanks to Nordstrom Rack, you can shop for a slew of amazing shoe deals, like the Cole Haan Estella Slingback Leather Sandals, which are up to 69% off now.
The sandals originally cost $150, but have been reduced to as low as $45 in the mahogany, gold, and black crocodile embossed hues. The other two colorways, tan and red, are being sold for $50. The available sizes run from 5 to 11, including half sizes, with the brand marking the style as true to size. Just note that several size and color combinations are already out of stock, so you'll want to act fast to snag a pair for yourself.
Cole Haan Estella Slingback Leather Sandal, From $45 (was $150) at Nordstrom Rack Shop at Nordstrom RackThe sandal design features a classic slingback strap that you can adjust to your comfort, and a toe strap that keeps your feet securely fastened. The buckle is made of gold-toned hardware, which can instantly elevate your outfits. The insole is crafted with FlexCraft cushioning, which means that the shoe is flexible and supportive, so you can easily wear them all day with no issues.
Cole Haan Estella Slingback Leather Sandal, From $45 (was $150) at Nordstrom Rack Shop at Nordstrom RackThe footwear is made with a leather upper, synthetic lining, and a rubber sole that consists of a non-slip grip so that you can sport them on uneven surfaces (which is especially helpful for those on a European summer trip with lots of cobblestone). Shoppers described the style as "amazing," "very comfortable," "classy," "excellent," and "beautiful."
Note that although the sandals are cited as true to size, several shoppers wrote that they're "perfect" for narrow feet. If you have wide feet, then we suggest another pair of sandals from Nordstrom Rack, like these super comfy Teva slides. Other than that small note, shoppers love how versatile the sandals are.
Shop More Deals- Sam Edelman Dean Flip Flop, $25 (was $40) at Nordstrom Rack
- Teva Hurricane XLT 2 Ampsole Sandal, $45 (was $100) at Nordstrom Rack
- Franco Sarto Tadella Slingback Flat, $70 (was $130) at Nordstrom Rack
You can easily pair these gorgeous sandals with everything from jeans to dresses. Sport them at casual hangouts or to professional events — the options are endless. Shop this Cole Haan offering while it's up to 69% off at Nordstrom Rack!
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1988 No. 1 Hit, Written In 5 Minutes, Became a Timeless Rock Classic
One of rock's most memorable songs didn't take all too long to come into fruition.
Legendary '80s rockers Guns N' Roses released "Sweet Child O' Mine" as a single on June 21, 1988, and the song defined a new era of music. Highly regarded as one of the best rock songs in music history, the track placed at No. 88 on Rolling Stone's list of "500 Best Songs of All Time."
The song was written as a love letter to front man Axel Rose's then-girlfriend, Erin Everly, and features what is considered to be one of the greatest guitar riffs. Guitarist Slash used a hypnotic, six-note string-skipping pattern and unusual chord phrasing to create the iconic riff, but he didn't think it was anything special.
Slash said he was just "f-----g around with the intro riff, making a joke," and this air of nonchalance is a theme when it comes to the chart-topping hit.
Guns 'N Roses wrote "Sweet Child O' Mine" in an impressively short amount of time — in around five minutes, according to bassist Duff McKagan.
When it came to McKagan's coming up with the bassline for the song, he said that it "just happened" and that he "never tries to force any sort of bassline." Meanwhile, Rose said that hearing his bandmate's instrumentals inspired him to come up with the iconic lyrics.
"Slash and Izzy [Stradlin, rhythm guitarist] got working together on the song and I came in, Izzy hit a rhythm, and all of sudden this poem popped into my head,” the singer said in Geffen press materials circulated in 1987, per Universal Music Group’s editorial platform. "It just all came together. A lot of rock bands are too f***ing wimpy to have any sentiment or any emotion in any of their stuff unless they’re in pain. It’s the first positive love song I’ve ever written, but I never had anyone to write anything that positive about, I guess."
The track immediately shot to the top of the charts, placing at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in September 1988. "Sweet Child O' Mine" would also go on to become the band's only chart-topping hit over the course of its decades-long career.
Related: 1965 Song, Written by a 15-Year-Old, Became One of Motown's Greatest Hits
The Common Supplement Hepatologists Wish People Would Stop Taking So Casually
Supplements are often billed as "natural," "healthy" and "necessary," especially for detox purposes. But supplement-related liver failure has surged eightfold between 1995 and 2020, according to a Liver Transplantationstudy. Hepatologists are begging people to stop taking supplements so casually, even ones marketed as "good for you" and that everyone on social media seems to be taking.
"Most people think natural means safe, but your liver processes every supplement you swallow," points out Dr. James Park, MD, the co-director of the Center for Liver Disease and Transplantation at the Northwell Transplant Institute and the chief of hepatology at North Shore University Hospital, Long Island Jewish Medical Center and Lenox Hill Hospital.
It's ironic because supplements for liver health are often marketed as detoxes, when the large organ usually does just fine without help from a tablet or powder.
"The liver is one of the body’s hardest-working organs," Dr. Brian T. Lee, MD, a transplant hepatologist at Hoag, tells Parade. "It processes nutrients, helps remove harmful substances from the bloodstream, produces proteins needed for blood clotting, supports digestion and regulates energy storage."
Yet, Dr. Lee says that the liver's role in processing supplements (and medication) makes it extra vulnerable to injury if you take certain substances in excess amounts. Hepatologists are concerned that people are doing just that with a certain supplement, and it puts your liver at risk. Below, they reveal the common supplement they are begging people to stop taking so casually (and better ways to get the nutrient).
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The Common Supplement Hepatologists Wish People Would Stop Taking So CasuallyFour hepatologists agree that it's dangerous to take high doses of vitamin A supplements, saying it's an established cause of liver injury.
"It can range from just the development of increased fat in the liver from high doses of vitamin A over long periods of time, to the development of liver cirrhosis, which is advanced scarring in the liver," says Dr. Varun Saxena, MD, a transplant hepatologist with Kaiser Permanente in San Francisco. "[It can even go] all the way up to complete liver failure, where the liver function deteriorates and patients need to be rescued with a transplant."
Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin, and some people may become deficient in it, such as those who have pancreatic or bowel diseases, explains Dr. Abdul Nadir, MD, an HonorHealth hepatologist and gastroenterologist specializing in hepatology.
Dr. Nadir adds that malabsorptive surgeries, like gastric bypass to promote weight loss, can also cause deficiencies. These people may need to take a vitamin A supplement under a doctor's supervision—that's not hepatologists' concern.
"However, vitamin A, when used without any deficiency, can accumulate in the liver and result in fat deposition and inflammation in the liver," Dr. Nadir says.
High-dose vitamin A is classified as more than 10,000 international units (IU) or 3,000 micrograms (mcg) of Retinol Activity Equivalent (RAE). "If anyone is taking more than that, there is an increased risk of liver toxicity," Dr. says.
Dr. Lee says chronic, casual use of high-dose supplements is his top concern. One problem with vitamin A is that it's easy to exceed the limit when supplement stacking.
"[Liver injury] can also occur when people unknowingly combine several products, such as a multivitamin, a skin supplement and immune-support supplements, which each can contain preformed vitamin A," he warns.
Another thing to keep in mind, according to Dr. Saxena: everyone is unique. Just because one person claims that a supplement regimen is working great for them doesn't mean your liver will react the same way.
"It’s really important to understand that you just don't know what you're getting when it comes to supplements. Also, because the liver is responsible for metabolizing everything that we put in our mouths, it's really the liver that's going to be most susceptible to a bad reaction when it comes to supplements," he says.
Related:2 Supplements You Should Never Take if You Want To Protect Your Liver, According to Hepatologists
How Much Vitamin A Do I Need per Day?"Recommendations from the FDA and from good research from decades are no more than 10,000 international units per day," Dr. Saxena says. "That doesn't mean people have to reach that level. In reality, just getting to half of that per day is plenty."
Dr. Lee adds that your needs can change if you're pregnant or breastfeeding. The good news? "Most adults who eat a varied, balanced diet can meet their requirements without a vitamin A supplement," he says.
Some of his favorite ways to get vitamin A through food are:
- Sweet potatoes
- Carrots
- Pumpkin
- Spinach
- Kale
- Red bell peppers
- Eggs (in the yolk)
- Dairy
- Fish
Getting vitamin A through food is important. "Vitamin A supports normal vision, immune function, reproduction and healthy skin," Dr. Lee explains.
Related: The Cooking Oil To Avoid if You Have Fatty Liver Disease, According to Gastroenterologists
What Supplements Should I Take for My Liver?Hepatologists don't recommend taking supplements for liver health. "There really aren’t any safe supplements that are marketed towards liver health," Dr. Saxena says. "We have no good way of predicting if a patient will have that [specific] reaction that leads to significant liver injury and in some cases, liver failure and the need for a liver transplant."
Dr. Park is especially begging people to stop taking anything marketed as "liver cleanse" or "liver detox."
"Every year, I see a patient who comes in with a severe liver injury because they're taking something called 'liver detox' or 'liver cleanse,' thinking that it would be better for the liver," Dr. Park says. "Everything you consume—including supplements taken through the mouth— will be detoxified through the liver, and sometimes it can cause severe liver injuries."
Dr. Lee notes that it's always a good idea to talk to your doctor before taking any supplements, especially if you're on prescription medications or have other underlying conditions.
"Along with causing direct injury to the liver, supplements can interact with prescription medications and may be unsafe for people with existing liver disease or other health conditions," he says. "Bring the bottle or a photo of the ingredient label to your appointment. Include multivitamins, powders, gummies and other products."
Up Next:
Related: Here’s Exactly What Happens to Your Liver When You Drink Green Tea
Sources:- Dr. Varun Saxena, MD, a transplant hepatologist with Kaiser Permanente in San Francisco
- Dr. Brian T. Lee, MD, a transplant hepatologist at Hoag
- Dr. James Park, MD, the co-director of the Center for Liver Disease and Transplantation at the Northwell Transplant Institute and the chief of hepatology at North Shore University Hospital, Long Island Jewish Medical Center and Lenox Hill Hospital
- Dr. Abdul Nadir, MD, an HonorHealth hepatologist and gastroenterologist specializing in hepatology
- Eight-Fold Increase in Dietary Supplement-Related Liver Failure Leading to Transplant Waitlisting Over the Last Quarter Century in the United States. Liver Transplantation.
- LiverTox: Clinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver Injury, Vitamin A. National Center for Biotechnology Information.
- Vitamin A and Carotenoids. Office of Dietary Supplements.
Best-Selling Supernatural Novel Among Goodreads' 'Books That Should Be Made Into Movies'
Not all books get the movie treatment, but that doesn't mean that fans aren't holding out hope that their favorite novels will be adapted for the screen.
On Goodreads, keen readers have been voting for which books they would like to see made into a film, and among them is a beloved supernatural novel that blends the paranormal with romance.
Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater was ranked at No. 9 on the list of "Books That Should Be Made Into Movies," with over 3,500 votes. Released in 2009, the book is the first installment in the author's The Wolves of Mercy Falls series, which features four novels: Shiver, Linger,Forever, and Sinner.
Spending 40 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, Shiver is undoubtedly the most popular book in the series, selling almost 131,000 copies in its first year of publication.
The young adult book follows Grace, a teenager who was bitten by a werewolf as a child but was never changed. Grace meets a yellow-eyed wolf in the woods, also known as Sam, a local boy who shifts from human to werewolf based on the temperature. As winter sets in, Sam struggles to maintain his human form, and the pair do what they can to find a cure before he shifts into a wolf forever.
"The reason why I wrote 'Shiver' is because I am a terrible person," Stiefvater joked in a 2010 talk. "I [wanted] to write a book that's so emotionally poignant, the characters are so true, and the circumstances are so dire, that it ruins someone's evening ... I wanted to write a book that would make people cry."
View this post on InstagramShiver is high in the rankings of books that are not movies now but should be in the future, and the good news is that fans of The Wolves of Mercy Falls series may not have to wait much longer. In 2023, Deadline announced that the book was set to be adapted for the screen by filmmaker Andy Fickman, who is behind fan-favorite movies such as 2006's She's the Man and 2023's One True Loves.
Maddie Ziegler was tapped to play Grace, while Levi Miller will portray Sam. While there is currently no set release date and the movie has faced delays, Shiver was in production as of Nov. 2024.
Related: Best-Selling Graphic Novel, Adapted Into New Netflix Movie, Is Among Goodreads' 'Top Books'
'Little House on the Prairie' Star Reveals the Crew's 'Insane' Behavior on Set: 'I Know They're Living on Beer'
Little House on the Prairie aired in the mid 1970's when rules and regulations on set weren't what they are today. Alison Arngrim looks back at filming the series and the crew's wild on-set drinking and parties.
The hit series was a family-friendly series that focused on the dynamic of the Ingalls family living on a farm. When Arngrim began playing the role of Nellie Olseon, she was only 12 years old and still recalls how the on-set crew was living off alcohol and cigarettes.
The actor appeared on an episode of the Here’s What Happened podcast, where she revealed the older crew members acted like characters from Mad Men. She makes clear that back in the '70s things were drastically different on set compared to what's expected from the crew in today's filming environment.
“They came from an era where everybody smoked and everybody drank, like all the time,” Arngrim explained. “There was no health food and no vegetarian options and gluten-free muffins. The prop men were in charge of the booze and the cigarettes, as well as the candy, so everyone was hanging out at their truck.”
Have no fear: Arngrim clarified that none of the young actors on Little House on the Prairie drank or smoked. It was simply the norm among the older castmates and the crew, with Michael Landon even "puffing Marlboros all over the place." Arngrim remembers him and the crew going through a few boxes a day.
Despite knowing that Landon would take shots of his liquor of choice, and the crew more than often drinking on set, she claims "no one was drunk on set." She recalls that whenever they were low on beer, someone would get sent out to get more.
“They were burning it off or something, because these guys were going on ladders and hanging lights and I’m going, ‘I know they’re living on beer,'” she explained. “The prop truck had a whole bar and at the end of each day when they were done they’d put up like a bar with a board on a couple of saw horses and then start really drinking."
The Little House on the Prairie actor even admits that the crew had "insane" Christmas and wrap parties that required everyone to have a designated driver. Arngrim couldn't fathom how they had the energy to party after spending a day of filming drinking.
“Their tolerance was God knows what,” she said. “Because they were out of the ’50s where you drank and you smoked. They did not think this was weird.”
The crew's on-set drinking escapades wouldn't have appeared an issue back when the series was filmed. In today's Hollywood, more than a few crew members would get the hook and be kicked off set.
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The 1993 Rock Gem That Found a Second Life Thanks to a ‘90s TV Classic
In November 1994, My So-Called Life was in the middle of its first and only season when it featured an unforgettable rock music moment.
Starring Claire Danes, Jared Leto, A.J. Langer, Wilson Cruz, Devon Gummersall and more, the short-lived ABC teen drama was known for its ‘90s alternative rock soundtrack. And in one episode, the show featured a cameo from the Boston-based alt-rock band Buffalo Tom, playing their song “Late at Night.”
The episode was titled “Self-Esteem,” and it included a scene shot at a "secret" Buffalo Tom show. The real-life rock trio, Bill Janovitz (vocals, guitar), Chris Colbourn (bass), and Tom Maginnis (drums), appeared onscreen to perform “Late at Night” during a scene in which main character Angela (Danes) is ignored by her crush Jordan (Leto).
At the end of the episode, the song plays again, this time during an iconic hallway scene. Teen hearts melted as Jordan grabbed Angela’s hand in public for the first time and walked her down the high school hallway. “Late at Night” instantly became a teen angst classic despite never being released as a single.
“Late at Night” appeared on the 1993 Buffalo Tom album Big Red Letter Day, but it was overshadowed by the lead single “Sodajerk.” But more than a year later, it became one of the band’s best-loved songs, thanks to the attention from the television show.
In a 2017 interview with Drowned in Sound, Janovitz said the band noticed a big change following their MSCL cameo.
“It was gratifying to see that hard work start to pay off with Big Red Letter Day, and at that point it felt like we were getting more towards the mainstream and becoming rock stars,” he recalled. “Then one of our songs, 'Late At Night,' appeared on a television show called My So-Called Life, and we started to notice a lot more young women at our shows. Girls who were big fans of that show. That's when things really started to change.”
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Speaking with Salon that same year, Janovitz noted that he was aware of My So-Called Life when his band was approached to make a cameo on the series.
“Our philosophy was to mostly say yes to things,” he recalled. “And I remember hearing about that show. My wife might have already been a fan by the time they approached us. It hadn’t been on long — in fact, it was only on for a year… But it had an outsized influence. And they just asked us, and we said ‘Sure.’”
“It was a great experience doing it,” Janovitz continued. “Then after that show, the impact was instant. All of a sudden, we started seeing a bunch more young, pretty women at our shows. … I mean, any women was a welcome addition for our crowd. But [you ’d see] these sensitive girls still, really, who are just maybe turning 21 and able to come to clubs. It was just great. It was excellent when we finally broke through a little bit.”
Three decades after breaking through with “Late at Night” on My So-Called Life, the band members recalled the experience fondly.
In a November 2023 post on the official Buffalo Tom Facebook page, a still shot from the episode was captioned with a look back at the band’s famous scene.
“The unannounced Buffalo Tom Pike Street show took place today on My So Called Life in 1995,” the Buffalo Tom caption read. “We had no idea the show would be as big of a hit as it was, but take full credit for bringing Angela and Jordan together as a couple.”