Jennifer Aniston is revealing how she managed to get over her fear of flying, as flight anxiety heightens amid recent aviation news.

In a recent interview with Travel + Leisure, the actress, best known for her role as Rachel Green in “Friends,” shared that although she loves to travel, she has an “extreme fear of flying.”

Aniston would follow small rituals while boarding an airplane, including tapping the outside of the aircraft with her right palm and stepping onto the plane with her right foot.

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But the actress revealed that recent hypnosis therapy has taught her to discontinue those superstitions – and it’s proven effective.

“I have not been doing the right hand, right foot — and now it’s shockingly good!” she said.

Aniston shared that she practices breath work to get through long flights, and will get up from her seat, walk around and stretch.

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“Plugging into a good meditation can get you through,” she added.

Aniston (not pictured) recommends listening to a “good meditation” while flying. (iStock)

Jonathan Alpert, a Manhattan-based psychotherapist and author, commented on the use of hypnosis to ease travel apprehension, mentioning that he’s worked with patients who have also struggled with a fear of flying.

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“Although I do not use hypnosis, I’ve known some therapists who have had success with it,” he shared with Fox News Digital.

“It’s important to note that it’s not a magic bullet like some people might think.”

A psychotherapist says that targeting the root of anxiety will help conquer “irrational thoughts” about flying. (iStock)

Addressing the root of anxiety is more important in helping to challenge “irrational thoughts,” according to Alpert.

“I tend to focus on behavioral techniques and cognitive strategies – proven, practical methods that build confidence and help eliminate anxiety,” he said.

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“If hypnosis serves as a catalyst for someone to reframe their fear and feel more in control, fine. But too often, people are looking for a quick fix instead of working to actually strengthen their mindset.”

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is coming under fire for not publicizing its own report into an E. coli outbreak last year that spread across 15 states and infected 89 people, one of whom died, according to a report from TKTKT. 

The outbreak was linked to romaine lettuce — with the first case being recorded in St. Louis County in Missouri in early November 2024 — but the agency was unable to confirm the source in its investigation, which in a report it made in February.

In total, 36 people were hospitalized, and 7 people developed Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a serious kidney disorder. Details about the death are unclear. The E. coli was 0157:H7 — a particularly dangerous strain that can result in severe illness.

MCDONALD’S E.COLI OUTBREAK LINKED TO CALIFORNIA FARM, FDA INVESTIGATING

About 95% of those infected reported eating leafy greens and 88% of those could recall consuming romaine lettuce, according to the FDA report. The report came to light after NBC News sought a public records request connected with ongoing litigation.

The FDA traceback led to a single grower and processor, with the romaine traced to a common ranch and lot​. But the agency was unable to confirm the outbreak as connected to that location since there was no infected lettuce left by the time investigators learned where the E. coli was coming from. 

Seven subclusters were identified, including at catered events, restaurants and a school.

The FDA then concluded its final report in February but redacted the name of the common ranch it investigated as being the source.

Additionally, despite the severity of the outbreak, the FDA did not publicly announce the result of its investigation. “There were no public communications related to this outbreak,” the FDA said in its report.​

That is concerning, said Frank Yiannas, the former deputy commissioner of food policy and response at the FDA.  

“It is disturbing that FDA hasn’t said anything more public or identified the name of a grower or processor,” Yiannas told NBC News.

He argued that by choosing not to identify the responsible party, the FDA withheld important information that could have helped consumers make informed choices about their purchases. He also noted that some individuals may have become ill during the outbreak without knowing the source, and that serious bacterial infections can lead to lasting health effects.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is coming under fire for not publicizing its own report into an E. coli outbreak last year that spread across 15 states and infected 89 people, one of whom died.  (iStock)

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The FDA, in a statement to NBC, said it names firms when there is enough evidence linking them to an outbreak and if there is “actionable advice for consumers, as long as naming the firm is not legally prohibited,” a spokesperson said in a statement to NBC News. “By the time investigators had confirmed the likely source, the outbreak had already ended and there was no actionable advice for consumers.” 

Fox News Digital reached out to the FDA for comment but did not immediately receive a response. 

PROTECT YOURSELF AGAINST E. COLI AND KNOW WHEN TO SEE A DOCTOR

NBC reports that nine lawsuits have now been filed against California-based Taylor Farms, one of the country’s largest producers of salads and fresh-cut vegetables. They argue in court documents that Taylor Farms sold “defective and unreasonably dangerous” food products.

Taylor Farms denied it was the source of the outbreak in a statement to Fox News Digital.

“Taylor Farms product WAS NOT the source of the referenced 2024 E. coli outbreak. We perform extensive raw and finished product testing on all our product and there was no evidence of contamination,” the statement reads.

“Any reporting that connects Taylor Farms products to these heartbreaking illnesses is dangerous, irresponsible and unfair to the impacted families.”

The company said that 0157:H7 comes from livestock, not from fresh produce. The FDA, Tayor Farms said, did not find the source of the outbreak because they are not authorized to inspect the beef industry.

The company said that all of its leafy greens are subjected to a robust sampling and pathogen testing program.

The outbreak came just weeks after a McDonald’s E. coli outbreak was linked to Taylor Farms. 

Taylor Farms supplies McDonald’s with its slivered onions used in its popular Quarter Pounder burger.  The farm voluntarily recalled the onions after the outbreak infected more than 100 people, killing one person. 

A widespread E. coli outbreak has been linked to a McDonald’s product, according to the CDC. (iStock)

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A statement provided by a Taylor Farms spokesperson to KSBW at the time said, “We test both raw and finished products for pathogens and have found no traces of E. coli. We have never seen E. coliO157:H7 associated with onions in the past.”

“Out of an abundance of caution, Taylor Farms Colorado removed yellow onions from the market produced out of our Colorado facility. We continue to work closely with FDA and CDC during this ongoing investigation,” the statement added. “Our priority is the health and wellness of our customers and consumers and the safety and quality of our products.”

While Taylor Farms’ headquarters is in Salinas, it also has several facilities across the country, including one in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Fox News’ Jasmine Baehr contributed to this report. 

A new drug has shown promise in combating Parkinson’s disease while minimizing unwanted side effects.

The once-daily pill, tavapadon, was found to relieve symptoms — including stiffness, coordination, tremors and movement — for a longer period of time for patients who were also taking at least 400 mg of levodopa a day and were experiencing “motor fluctuations,” which are periods of time when the medication wears off and symptoms return, according to the study.

Until now, levodopa has been the standard first-line treatment for Parkinson’s patients. 

PARKINSON’S CASES COULD DOUBLE GLOBALLY BY 2050, STUDY REVEALS

Levodopa — which is converted into dopamine in the brain and targets the D2/D3/D4 dopamine receptors — has been linked to side effects including sleep disorders, hallucinations, impulse control behavioral disorders, weight gain, leg swelling and blood pressure changes, according to the researchers.

In the study, tavapadon — which works by mimicking dopamine and targeting the D1/D5 receptors — was found to have the same benefits as levodopa without the adverse effects, according to Hubert H. Fernandez, MD, lead study author and director of the Center for Neurological Restoration at Cleveland Clinic.

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“It provides patients with another option to alleviate their motor fluctuations that are commonly experienced with levodopa (the best drug we have so far in Parkinson’s) in the moderate to advanced stages of the disorder,” Fernandez told Fox News Digital.

“This global, multi-center, pivotal trial showed that patients placed on tavapadon had significantly more ‘on time’ and less ‘off time’ compared to those who received placebo — and that the drug was well-tolerated by patients.”

Tavapadon is a once-daily pill, while the current first-line medication, levodopa, requires three pills daily. (iStock)

In the study, the researchers measured patients’ impulse control behavior disorders, excessive daytime sleepiness, blood pressure changes and weight changes, and found that the adverse effects linked to tavapadon were no different from those who received a placebo.

“Of course, this is a short-term study, and we need to wait for our long-term study to be really confident that our preliminary observations remain true,” Fernandez noted. “Nonetheless, we are very encouraged.”

“Regardless of when it’s used, whether in the very beginning or as an adjunctive therapy to levodopa, we think it’s a gain overall.”

The researchers presented the results of the TEMPO 3 trial at the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) earlier this month in San Diego.

For those who were recently diagnosed and are having less severe motor symptoms, Fernandez suggested that a once-daily dose of tavapadon could potentially replace the three-times-a-day dosing of levodopa.

“It provides patients with another option to alleviate their motor fluctuations that are commonly experienced with levodopa (the best drug we have so far in Parkinson’s) in the moderate to advanced stages of the disorder,” a researcher said. (iStock)

“Should they require levodopa at some point, they will need a lower dose and less frequency, which then reduces their likelihood of developing motor fluctuations and dyskinesia and other side effects,” he noted in a press release.

For those with more advanced Parkinson’s, tavapadon could be paired with levodopa. 

AMID BRETT FAVRE’S PARKINSON’S DIAGNOSIS, NEUROLOGIST DISCUSSES HOW CONCUSSIONS IMPACT RISK

“So regardless of when it’s used, whether in the very beginning or as an adjunctive therapy to levodopa, we think it’s a gain overall,” Fernandez added.

Recent research has found that Parkinson’s cases are expected to surge by 2050, affecting up to 25 million people globally.

The biggest increase will affect people aged 80 and older, with cases in that age group projected to increase by 196% by 2050, they noted. 

Among people aged 80 and older, Parkinson’s cases are projected to increase by 196% by 2050. (iStock)

As results of the long-term trial are pending, AbbVie, the maker of tavapadon, will soon file an application to the Food and Drug Administration for approval of the drug.

“The FDA will then review the application — from there, they can either approve it for use, ask more questions that may not be clear, or request another study or an extension to verify some results,” Fernandez said.

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“We are hopeful that this new generation of dopamine agonist — being more selective in its dopamine receptor stimulation, and given only once daily — will be a significant improvement in the symptomatic treatment of PD symptoms in the early, middle and advanced stages of the disease,” he added. 

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Dr. Mary Ann Picone, medical director of the MS Center at Holy Name Medical Center in Teaneck, New Jersey, was not involved in the study but called the results “very interesting and encouraging as a new tool for improving quality of life for patients with Parkinson’s disease.”

Recent research has found that Parkinson’s cases are expected to surge by 2050, affecting up to 25 million people globally.

“One of the major limitations of the long-term use of dopamine is wearing-off phenomena and the need to dose it more frequently,” Picone told Fox News Digital. 

“The use of dopamine agonists helps to prolong the long-term benefit of dopamine. Decreased benefit of dopamine can lead to ‘freezing,’ or episodes where patients have increased stiffness and difficulty moving.”

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“This new therapy would target different receptors and allow for more ‘on’ time, but without the involuntary dyskinesia (uncontrolled movements) that … can interfere with function.”

Injectables for type 2 diabetes and weight loss could soon be a thing of the past.

Eli Lilly announced Thursday the successful completion of a phase 3 trial of Orforglipron – the first small-molecule GLP-1 that is administered as a once-daily oral pill.

The ACHIEVE-1 trial evaluated the efficacy of Orforglipron compared to placebo in adults with type 2 diabetes and “inadequate glycemic control with diet and exercise alone.”

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The results showed lowered A1C (blood sugar) in patients by an average of 1.3% to 1.6% across doses, according to a press release.

More than 65% of participants taking the highest dose of the drug scored an A1C less than or equal to 6.5%, which is below the defined threshold for diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association.

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Trial participants also saw reduced weight by an average of 16 pounds, or 7.9%, at the highest dose.

Participants had not reached a weight plateau when the study ended, which suggests there was still weight to be lost, according to the researchers.

The experimental drug is made by Eli Lilly, the Indiana-based pharmaceutical company that also makes Mounjaro and Zepbound. (iStock)

The trial also found that the overall safety and tolerability of the drug was consistent with the classic injectable GLP-1s, like Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound.

If Orforglipron achieves approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Eli Lilly projected its confidence in launching the drug “worldwide without supply constraints.”

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“This would further Lilly’s mission to reduce chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes, which is expected to impact an estimated 760 million adults by 2050,” the pharmaceutical company wrote in its announcement.

The trial found that the overall safety and tolerability of the drug was consistent with other injectable GLP-1s. (iStock)

David A. Ricks, Eli Lilly chair and CEO, commented in a statement, “We are pleased to see that our latest incretin medicine meets our expectations for safety and tolerability, glucose control and weight loss, and we look forward to additional data readouts later this year.”

“As a convenient once-daily pill, Orforglipron may provide a new option and, if approved, could be readily manufactured and launched at scale for use by people around the world.”

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Eli Lilly intends to submit Orforglipron for weight management to global regulatory agencies by the end of 2025, as well as for type 2 diabetes treatment in 2026, according to the company.

The first generation that has been exposed consistently to digital technology has reached the age where symptoms of dementia tend to emerge. 

Some have claimed that digital technology could negatively impact cognitive abilities, but researchers from Baylor University have discovered just the opposite.

“You can flip on the news on just about any day and you’ll see people talking about how technologies are harming us,” said study co-author Michael Scullin in a press release.

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“People often use the terms ‘brain drain’ and ‘brain rot,’ and now ‘digital dementia’ is an emerging phrase. As researchers, we wanted to know if this was true,” Scullin said.

The researchers analyzed past studies to determine the impact of technology on mental aging. Their findings, which were published in the journal Nature Human Behaviour, suggest that digital technologies can actually preserve cognitive abilities.

AMERICA’S SENIORS ARE VULNERABLE TO THESE DIGITAL THREATS, EXPERTS WARN

For the meta-review, researchers analyzed more than 136 studies that included 400,000 adults, with an average of six years of follow-up data.

The team concluded that the use of digital technology correlates with a 58% lower risk of cognitive impairment, even after adjusting for gender, age and education level.

Digital technology use correlates with a 58% lower risk of cognitive impairment, according to the study. (iStock)

One contributing factor, according to Scullin, could be the cognitive challenges that older adults face when interacting with technology.

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“One of the first things that middle-aged and older adults were saying is that ‘I’m so frustrated by this computer. This is hard to learn,'” he said in the release. 

“That’s actually a reflection of the cognitive challenge, which may be beneficial for the brain even if it doesn’t feel great in the moment.”

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Technology can be cognitively challenging because it is always changing, forcing users to learn and adapt, the researchers noted. This “exercises” the brain and helps keep it sharp.

Because technology is always changing, it forces brains to adapt and become stronger, according to researchers involved in the study. (iStock)

Dementia diagnoses often involve loss of ability to independently perform daily tasks, such as taking pills, keeping track of appointments and navigating directions, per the Alzheimer’s Research UK website.

Digital tools like web calendars, phone reminders and navigation apps can allow for greater independence in older adults.

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The study found that “digital scaffolding” – the process of using these tools to perform daily tasks – “facilitates better functional outcomes in older adults while general cognitive functioning declines.”

One highly debated aspect of digital technology’s effect on our brains is the use of social media, but according to the researchers, it’s not all bad.

Researchers say one benefit of technology is the greater potential for social connection. (iStock)

Another benefit of digital technology, according to experts, is the ability for aging adults to maintain social connections, which has been linked to a decreased dementia risk.

“Now you can connect with families across generations,” Scullin said.

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“You can not only talk to them, you can see them. You can share pictures. You can exchange emails — and it’s all within a second or less. So that means there’s a greater opportunity for decreasing loneliness.”