Daily creatine supplementation could help middle-aged and older adults preserve lean muscle mass, gain strength and support cognitive function, whether it's paired with exercise or not, according to a study published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition.

The 12-week study, conducted by researchers at Texas A&M University’s Exercise & Sport Nutrition Lab, evaluated 64 men and women ages 45 to 65.

Participants were divided into non-exercise and exercise-plus-diet groups, then randomly assigned to take either 10 grams of creatine monohydrate per day — administered in two 5-gram doses — or a placebo.

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Creatine is a naturally occurring compound that helps cells regenerate adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the primary energy source for cellular activity in both muscle and brain tissue, according to Cleveland Clinic.

Creatine monohydrate is a dietary supplement that helps muscles produce quick energy during activities like strength training.

Adults naturally lose muscle mass and strength as they age, a condition known as sarcopenia. While dieting can accelerate that muscle loss, the new study found that creatine monohydrate helped counter the effect.

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Adding creatine to an exercise and diet intervention resulted in greater reductions in body fat percentage, better preservation of lean body mass, and marked improvements in upper- and lower-body strength compared to a placebo.

Even among participants who did not engage in exercise or dietary changes, daily creatine supplementation increased lean tissue mass and improved muscular strength and endurance, according to the study.

"The fact that you can increase lean muscle mass even without exercise is remarkable, especially as we age," New York-based fitness coach Jacob Zemer told Fox News Digital. "Between the physical and mental benefits, most people should be considering creatine supplementation."

The expert, who was not involved in the study, noted that even participants who did not exercise saw an increase in their bench press and leg press.

Zemer said the findings suggest creatine may help build actual muscle tissue that generates strength, rather than simply increasing the amount of water stored in muscle cells.

Beyond physical performance, the researchers found that the 10-gram daily dose of creatine supported improvements in select tests of memory and cognitive processing.

"My main takeaway from the study is that the benefits of creatine extend far beyond just athletes and bodybuilders," Zemer said. "Creatine continues to be the most scientifically studied and validated supplement on the market."

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However, the trainer emphasized that supplementation should not replace regular physical activity.

"Just because you can increase lean muscle mass by taking creatine without exercise does not mean that it is optimal or a replacement for exercise," Zemer cautioned.

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"The benefits of exercise will always supersede those of creatine alone, and when the two are combined, they are both enhanced."

The study authors noted several limitations to their findings.

Participants chose whether to join the exercise or non-exercise groups before being randomly assigned to receive either creatine or a placebo, which could have introduced lifestyle differences between the groups.

Additionally, because the study lasted just 12 weeks and included only healthy adults, researchers don't yet know whether the benefits would be long-term or whether they would apply to people with serious metabolic or neurological conditions.

For those considering taking creatine, Zemer advised consulting a healthcare professional to determine whether it's right for them, then choosing a reputable brand, staying hydrated and taking it consistently.

"Recommended minimum dosages for creatine are typically 3 grams for women and 5 grams for men," he said. "This study used higher dosages. Creatine is about consistency rather than when you take it, so find a time you can consistently take it daily."

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According to the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, creatine is generally considered safe for healthy adults, although some people may experience bloating, stomach discomfort or water retention.

Experts recommend talking with a healthcare provider before beginning supplementation, particularly for those with kidney disease or other chronic health conditions.

Jayden Daniels' journey through his elbow dislocation 11 days ago has been a rollercoaster ride, especially if you saw how the injury happened, and the concern that it ended his season prematurely. But we've reached the point where the Washington Commanders quarterback is talking to the media again and even suggesting he might play on Sunday.

Daniels, in London with his teammates for the game against the Indianapolis Colts, faced reporters for the first time since his injury on Sept. 20 and was almost immediately asked if he could play this week.

"It feels good," Daniels said of his left elbow, which was also dislocated last season. "Feels good to be back and, you know, taking it day by day."

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Daniels has practiced the past two days to varying degrees. Is he surprised that he's been able to get back on the field this soon?

"What you think?" Daniels playfully responded to the question. "I'm not surprised. No, everything I went through, you know, everybody said, I'd be good to go if I'm able to go out there on Sunday, but again, just taking it day by day."

So, um, the money question: Is he indeed playing on Sunday?

Daniels smiled.

" Just taking the day by day," he replied.

COMMANDERS PLAYERS PUSH BACK ON THE NARRATIVE THEY DIDN'T CARE ABOUT JAYDEN DANIELS INJURY

Looking for a no, in that response. Not there.

In fact, a source close to Daniels told OutKick that while he is "not pushing coaches" to play on Sunday, that is exactly what he wants to do.

But it's not ultimately his decision. Coach Dan Quinn on Wednesday said the team wants to gauge how Daniels looks in practices this week before making a final decision on whether to start backup Marcus Mariota or return Daniels to the lineup.

"As we're working through the week, he'll get more [repetitions in practice]," Quinn said. "It's part of our return-to-play process where guys do individual, that kind of limited portion, then some of the team reps and then more.

"As we get into Thursday and Friday, we'll see what that load looks like. And by Friday, we'll have a definite determination of where we're at."

Looking for the part where Quinn says Daniels is out. Not there.

It does not take Sherlock Holmes to figure out that while in London, the Commanders are sounding almost hopeful about their starting quarterback's status. And part of that is leaving the door ajar for his return this week.

This is a bit surprising because in the days after the elbow injury, there was a real possibility Daniels could require surgery and be out the remainder of the season.

Then Daniels met with multiple medical experts and decided wearing a brace, while affecting the functionality to his non-throwing arm, would be acceptable. His return to play is not a pain tolerance issue.

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So, Daniels decided to return – be that this week or the next, barring a setback.

"I love football. I play football," Daniels said in explaining his reason for returning. "I mean, I get paid to play football, so, I went to my teammates and stuff like that to see that everybody's hurting. Something's wrong with everybody on this team.

"So, I just feel like just for me, just being a leader, being a guy, just going out there and, give it my shot to go out there and play and obviously protect myself, you know, stuff like that.

"But, you know, I just love football. I have a passion for it."

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"The lieutenant governor [Peggy Flanagan], even as we sit here today, continues to take absolutely no accountability for any of the fraud issues, and she continues to blame the governor. And I'm going to be honest: It's p---ing me off."

The above quote is not from a Republican, but from Democratic Rep. Angie Craig in July when she was running in the Minnesota Senate primary against Peggy Flanagan. While harsh words are often lightly thrown in primary battles, in this case, one must ask: Where is the lie?

While Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed and Colorado’s House candidate Milot Kiros have snagged headlines for their far-left views, Flanagan has been able to hide a bit.

However, the tightening race in Minnesota, as shown both through on-the-ground reporting and in polling, is putting Democrats everywhere in an awkward position because they had thought Flanagan’s leftist lunacy would float under the radar this cycle.

Well, not anymore.

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Now that the Gopher State is firmly in the political spotlight, voters will be reminded, for example, of Flanagan wearing a T-shirt that says "Protect Trans Kids" on it, with a picture of a large Bowie knife — which can only be rationally read as a threat of physical violence.

We know what the shirt means because not just threats, but also acts of physical violence by, or in defense of, members of the trans community have become commonplace in our society. Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling is threatened constantly for simply believing that men cannot become women.

Trans-related mass shootings have become a norm.

Progressive protests and internet forums echo with terms like "Kill All TERFS (Trans Excluding Radical Feminists)," and instead of trying to calm tensions, Flanagan’s answer is to pour gasoline on the rhetorical fire with death threats while insisting that men belong in women’s sports.

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On the economy, Flanagan also flails to the far left, favoring a $17 national minimum wage that would crush many small businesses, not just in Minnesota, but across America, and "Medicare-for-all" that would take away the private insurance of every citizen.

When it comes to diversity, equity and inclusion, Flanagan is exactly where you would expect her to be, just to the left of Chairman Mao, saying in 2023, "We remain committed to centering the people most impacted by disparities based on race, geography, and economic status… We will continue working to engage and empower those who have been historically left out of government."

Among the farcical programs created by this unhinged rubric was Minnesota’s marijuana legalization efforts that gave loans, often forgivable, to people based on "special equity status," to open dispensaries — many of which have now failed and closed.

Truly, only government leftists could foul up selling weed, something mastered by the stoners we all knew in high school.

Of course, this emphasis on "special equity" and DEI also lies at the root of Flanagan’s massive Somali fraud scandal, where whistleblowers were ignored as hundreds of millions, at least, were pilfered because Peggy was uncomfortable criticizing Somalis.

To make matters worse, some of the alleged fraudsters appear to be inside Flanagan’s inner circle, including Nimco Ahmed, with whom Flanagan recently appeared in full hijab, no less, whose autism center is now under investigation.

For her part, Flanagan’s opponent, Republican Michele Tafoya, is offering Minnesotans a centrist and moderate version of the GOP with stances such as supporting abortion rights, even angering more traditional conservatives.

Tafoya has taken her middle-of-the-road message on a media blitz in recent weeks. One half expects her to be interviewed on Prairie Home Companion, while Flanagan has all but been in hiding, entertaining only the most comfortable and coddling interviews possible.

Notwithstanding the fact that early voting has already begun in Minnesota, a month is too long for Flanagan to pull a Biden-esque hide-in-the-basement strategy, especially as Tafoya’s national profile is only growing stronger.

To date, Flanagan has not agreed to debate the eager Tafoya, presumably for all the reasons, reflecting her failed record. But at this point, refusing to take on her opponent face-to-face might play worse than any embarrassment the event itself might cause.

The Democrats have a Peggy Flanagan problem. They really, really, really don’t want her and her bizarre brand of progressivism on the Sunday shows, but at this point, they may have no choice.

Meanwhile, for Michele Tafoya and Minnesotans, what once looked like a long shot is now very close to even money.

FIRST ON FOX: The Trump administration is seeking to disrupt with a sweeping set of sanctions a sprawling Sinaloa cartel network accused of corrupting Mexican officials just across the U.S. border.

Los Mayos, a powerful faction of the Sinaloa cartel, and its U.S.-born leader are accused of funneling fentanyl and drug money through California and hiring hitmen to kill rivals on American soil.

The Treasury Department, according to material exclusively obtained by Fox News Digital ahead of their public release on Tuesday, will sanction 21 individuals and 25 entities in a crackdown against Los Mayos and their alleged illegal activity within U.S. borders.

The targets of the sanctions include Ismael Zambada Sicairos, known as "Mayito Flaco," a dual U.S.-Mexican citizen born in Anaheim, California, whom Treasury describes as the "undisputed head" of Los Mayos.

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The action lays out how one of Mexico’s most powerful cartel factions allegedly maintains its grip on two critical trafficking corridors along the U.S. border — through political and police corruption, money laundering and violence that Treasury says has extended into Southern California.

It also exposes what Treasury describes as deep cartel penetration of government and law enforcement in Baja California, the Mexican state bordering California.

The Treasury says Sinaloa-linked "narco-corruption has reached the highest levels" of the state government, alleging that the ex-husband of Gov. Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda used his political influence to protect cartel operations and that a former Mexicali public security chief accepted bribes to allow the cartel to exert control over municipal police.

The allegations shed new light on a controversy that erupted last year when the U.S. revoked the visas of both Ávila and her then-husband, Carlos Torres Torres.

The State Department revoked Torres’ U.S. visa in May 2025 over what Treasury now describes as his "cartel affiliation and work on behalf of the Sinaloa cartel." Olmeda’s U.S. visa was also revoked around the same time, though U.S. officials did not publicly disclose a reason for the action against her.

The Department of War also played a role in the effort through Joint Interagency Task Force-Counter Cartel, which works with federal law enforcement, intelligence agencies and Treasury to identify cartel financial and facilitation networks.

"These sanctions reflect the impact of sustained interagency collaboration and intelligence fusion in identifying and disrupting the networks that enable violent transnational cartels," Brig. Gen. Maurizio Calabrese, director of JIATF-Counter Cartel, told Fox News Digital.

Calabrese said the task force contributed analysis and operational insight on cartel-linked financial and facilitation networks to support the broader effort behind the sanctions.

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Treasury also alleges the cartel’s reach extended directly into California.

Lorenzo Castillo Maldonado, an associate in Mayito Flaco’s network, allegedly hired hitmen on the cartel leader’s orders to kill rival cartel members in Southern California. Another part of the network allegedly worked with complicit Southern California money exchanges to collect bulk cash from U.S. drug sales and move the proceeds back to Mexico.

The sanctions are aimed in part at disrupting Los Mayos’ grip on the Tijuana and Mexicali "plazas," strategic corridors Treasury says the cartel uses to move fentanyl and other narcotics into the U.S.

"Today’s action underscores that no cartel kingpin, corrupt Mexican government official, or financial facilitator is beyond the reach of Treasury’s authorities," Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said. "Our message is clear: the Trump administration will identify and disrupt any cartel actor who threatens our security or the integrity of our financial system."

The designations effectively cut the targets off from the U.S. financial system, blocking property and assets under U.S. jurisdiction and generally barring Americans from doing business with them. Foreign financial institutions that knowingly facilitate significant transactions for sanctioned individuals could also face U.S. sanctions.

At the center of Tuesday’s action is Mayito Flaco, who Treasury says has emerged as the undisputed leader of Los Mayos following the July 2024 arrest of his father, longtime Sinaloa cartel kingpin Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada Garcia.

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El Mayo’s arrest set off a violent struggle between Los Mayos and Los Chapitos, the Sinaloa faction led by sons of Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman. Treasury says the two factions remain locked in a costly internal war that has forced both sides to rebuild their leadership and alliances.

Mayito Flaco, 44, was born in Anaheim in 1982 and later filed a U.S. name change to Fernando Sicairos Aispuro, according to Treasury. He was federally indicted in California in 2014 on drug trafficking and money laundering charges and remains a fugitive in Mexico.

The Treasury says he now commands Los Mayos’ drug trafficking, murder, extortion, corruption and kidnapping operations.

The sanctions also target Torres’ brother, Luis Alfonso Torres Torres, whom Treasury accuses of collecting bribes and laundering illicit funds through companies and political campaigns.

Former Mexicali Public Security Director Pedro Ariel Mendivil Garcia is also being sanctioned. The Treasury alleges Mendivil accepted bribes from Los Rusos leader Juan Jose Ponce Felix, known as "El Ruso," in exchange for allowing the cartel to exert control over municipal police, facilitate drug trafficking and carry out enforcement operations.

A Boston-bound Delta Air Lines flight was forced to make an emergency landing in Portugal, disrupting travel plans for more than 280 passengers.

The flight on Sunday from Barcelona, Spain, to Boston, Massachusetts, was diverted to Porto after smoke was detected in the cabin.

Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported that 14 passengers required medical attention after the plane landed, citing Portugal's civil protection service.

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Of the 14 passengers, four were taken to local hospitals for smoke inhalation and were reportedly only "lightly" affected, the news agency said.

A Delta spokesperson confirmed the Sept. 27 incident to Fox News Digital but did not comment on the hospitalization reports.

The diversion was due to a "reported mechanical issue," the official said.

"The flight landed safely, and we apologize to our customers for the delay in their travels as we work to get them to Boston as safely and quickly as possible," the spokesperson added.

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Delta Air Lines said it was working to rebook customers on alternative flights to their final destinations.

The Airbus A330-300 carried 13 crew members and 283 customers.

The air in aircraft cabins "is as good as or better than the air found in offices and homes," according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). 

"In rare instances, mechanical issues such as failures of an engine oil seal or recirculation fan bearings can cause fumes to enter the cabin," the FAA notes on its website.

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"Airlines are required to report these incidents to the FAA. The FAA investigates the causes and makes sure they’re fixed before the aircraft returns to service."

All airlines are required "to supply clean air to both passengers and crew members," the FAA added. 

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"Airplanes must be designed to provide the equivalent of 0.55 pounds of fresh air per minute per occupant, a ventilation rate that is consistent with other public environments," the agency's website states.

Other flights have made headlines in recent months after unexpected incidents prompted crews to return to airports or alter their routes.

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Earlier this year, a Cape Air flight bound for Boston was forced to return to Nantucket, Massachusetts, shortly after takeoff when the upper section of its main cabin door partially opened mid-flight.

More recently, a Delta Air Lines flight bound for Orlando returned to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport minutes after takeoff due to a reported medical issue involving a pilot.

The Aug. 31 flight, which carried 178 passengers and seven crew members, landed safely before Delta arranged for a new crew to continue the trip to Orlando.

If you thought a truck bed cover was going to protect your belongings and/or food from bears, think again. They're not likely to pop open your tailgate using the handle to snoop around.

But, as you can see in the video below, bears can rip the bed cover off with ease. Not only that, hopping up on top of a truck bed cover in a parking lot and ripping it open is a teachable moment they can pass along to their cubs.

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You can't see exactly what momma bear is after, but her cub is definitely taking notes as it figures out how to get onto the bed cover to join her.

It's safe to assume the bear isn't interested in camping gear or tools.

She in all likelihood is sniffing out food the truck owner mistakenly thought would be protected in the bed of the truck by the cover.

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Perhaps a picnic basket? Whatever it was the bears caught the scent of, the cover was no match for these two.

There's more knowledge that can be passed along here, aside from the fact that your food is not safe from bears in the bed of your truck under a cover.

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The Instagram account that shared the viral video recognized that and shared the one rule you need to remember if you encounter a mother bear and her cubs, never get between them.

Also, if you encounter them:

• Stay calm and do not run.

• Give them plenty of space and slowly back away.

• Never approach the cubs — even for a photo.

• Keep dogs leashed and under control.

• Don’t climb a tree; black bears and cubs can climb extremely well.

• If the bear changes behavior because of you, you’re already too close.

• Carry bear spray where bears are present — and keep it accessible, not buried in your backpack.

Peanut butter is a spread by definition, but when the word "spread" appears on a peanut butter jar label, it's most likely satisfying a legal requirement rather than acting as a simple descriptor.

Skippy, a well-known name in the peanut butter world, must label its Natural Peanut Butter Spread as such because it contains palm oil.

Regulations set by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) state that, in order to be classified as peanut butter, a product must contain at least 90% peanuts — otherwise, the word "spread" needs to be included on the label.

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The Skippy website acknowledges this FDA regulation, saying: "Natural Peanut Butter Spreads can include additional ingredients like palm oil or other oils, which are not hydrogenated."

"These spreads may still contain at least 90% peanuts but include other ingredients that place them outside the standard definition of 'peanut butter,'" the website notes.

It wasn't the smoothest journey to get this regulation set in stone.

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Back in 1959, an FDA press release included the findings of a survey which showed that "products labeled ‘peanut butter’ had reduced their peanut content as much as 20 percent by substituting cheaper hydrogenated or vegetable oils for expensive peanuts and peanut oil," according to the FDA.

When manufacturers asked about adding glycerin to peanut butter in order to fight oil separation, the FDA responded by stating that, "if glycerin could be added without rendering the food adulterated, its addition would have to be set forth prominently on the product label."

It became apparent that customers liked peanut butter that spread easily and had a bit of sweetener.

So, in 1961, the FDA proposed a new standard which maintained products consisting of 90 percent peanuts and additional sweeteners would be classified as peanut butter.

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Upon this proposal, three peanut butter brands — Skippy, Jif and Peter Pan — began a twenty-week public hearing to argue what peanut percentage the new standard would dictate.

Eventually, the US Appeals Court approved the FDA proposal to set peanut butter standards "at no less than 90 percent for peanuts and no more than 55 percent fat," according to the FDA.

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Today, as shoppers browse supermarket shelves stocked with many different variations of peanut butter, taking a closer look at the label could answer an important question: Is it really peanut butter?

Fox News Digital reached out to Skippy's parent company, Hormel Foods, for comment.