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Laxatives are facing shortages at drugstores and supermarkets across the US — partly thanks to a questionable new TikTok weight-loss trend that casts old-school stool softeners as “budget Ozempic,” doctors told The Wall Street Journal.

Gastroenterologists told the paper that supplies of laxatives have been strained by what they called post-pandemic bowel dysfunction, likely caused by lingering effects of eating worse, exercising less and suffering with greater anxiety as COVID-19 swept the nation.

Meanwhile, a concerning trend also has emerged on TikTok where users promote taking laxatives, particularly Miralax, on a daily basis, with the hashtag #GutTok racking up over 1.1 billion views.

On the video-sharing app, a slew of videos tout colon-stimulating meds — called polyethylene glycol 3350, better known by brand names Miralax, Ex-Lax and Glycolax — as a “budget Ozempic” to feel skinnier, psychologists found, according to the news site.

Miralax in particular it touted as a miracle powder many users claim they can’t live without. In one video, a self-proclaimed “girlie with digestive health issues” films herself dumping a packet of the laxative powder into her smoothie, which she calls the “Miralax Mango Miracle.”

“This is gonna cure all my problems,” she says as she blends the powder into her fruity drink.

A slew of commenters shared that they, too, have a go-to Miralax-infused drink, including one user who enjoys it with “lemonade water enhancer,” while another “found cranberry juice masks the taste and texture perfectly” and a third opts for the powder blended with “frozen bananas, PB2 powder and chocolate almond milk.”

Another woman shared a TikTok claiming a combo of Miralax and four Dulcolax Laxative Soft Chews is her go-to method of “detoxing” her body, especially post-vacation.

“What you eat in private, you will wear in public, right?” the creator asked.

“Trying to beat the belly bloat,” another user shared using the viral — and concerning — “Girl Dinner” song where women share their ideal dinner, with many examples looking more like snacks for toddlers than meals for adult women.

In this particular TikTok, the user’s so-called “Girl Dinner” of choice was a “14-Day Slimming Tea,” Ballerina Tea — which is made with senna, a medication used to treat constipation — and Miralax.

The Post has sought comment from Miralax.

Dr. George Pavlou, who runs Gastroenterology Associates of New Jersey, told The Journal: “Its crazy to think that our collective bowel dysfunction problems have gotten so bad that were literally running out of stool softeners.”

The proof is in the Amazon searches: Searches for laxative pills on Amazon have tripled in the past year alone, according to analytics firm Patter, per The Journal.

In addition, employees at Dow Chemical, a producer of polyethylene glycol, told The Journal that the demand for laxatives has gotten so high since the pandemic that the company is building new factories to boost production of the sought-after powder, which draws water into the colon or physically stimulates the colon to contract.

Historically, consumers in older age groups have routinely purchased laxatives since they’re likely to move less and be on medications that cause constipation, gastroenterologists told The Journal.

absolutely not sponsored by miralax but boy should it be #digestivehealth #bowelbaddie #smoothie

However, in recent years, the age demographic for these over-the-counter stool softeners has gotten shockingly low, the doctors said.

Benefiber manufacturer Haleon — which has reported double-digit sales growth in recent years — reports that 18- to 42-year-olds are now buying the fiber supplement at a higher rate than ever before.

“The demand has changed,” though the brand’s marketing messaging hasn’t, Jissan Cherian, who oversees marketing for Benefiber, told The Journal.

He attributed the shift to the focus on wellness and a growing awareness of the connection between gut bacteria and depression. 

Representatives for Haleon didn’t immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.

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Zilisch breaks collarbone in scary Victory Lane fall

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August 10, 2025

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Zilisch breaks collarbone in scary Victory Lane fall

  • Associated Press

Aug 9, 2025, 10:02 PM ET

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. — NASCAR Xfinity Series points leader Connor Zilisch broke his collarbone after a hard fall in Victory Lane at Watkins Glen International.

After his series-leading sixth victory, Zilisch was climbing onto the roof of his No. 88 Chevrolet to celebrate. He slipped after apparently getting his left foot caught in the driver’s side window netting and tumbled awkwardly onto the asphalt.

Zilisch, 19, was taken on a backboard to the trackside medical center and then transported to a hospital for further evaluation. He posted on X about two hours later that he had a broken collarbone and that CT scans showed no head injury.

“Thank you everybody for reaching out today,” Zilisch posted. “I’m out of the hospital and getting better already. Thankful for all the medics for quick attention and grateful it wasn’t any worse.”

Zilisch will not be available for the Cup race Sunday at Watkins Glen. After racing in the Truck and Xfinity Series the past two days at the road course, he was scheduled to complete a tripleheader by making his fourth Cup start this season for Trackhouse Racing.

The scary incident capped an eventful day for Zilisch, who drives for Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s JR Motorsports team.

After starting from the pole position, Zilisch wrecked teammate Shane van Gisbergen’s car while battling for the lead on Lap 65. After being bumped from the lead to fifth on a restart, Zilisch retook first and led the final four laps.

“He did such a great job of getting back through the field and getting the lead,” crew chief Mardy Lindley told SiriusXM NASCAR Radio after the race. “Praying for Connor right now that he’s OK. I think he’s going to be fine.”

Zilisch missed a race earlier this season at Texas Motor Speedway after suffering a back injury during a crash at Talladega Superspeedway. He has 11 consecutive top-five finishes and five wins since his return.

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Rivera tears Achilles during Old-Timers’ game

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August 10, 2025

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Rivera tears Achilles during Old-Timers' game

  • Associated Press

Aug 9, 2025, 06:35 PM ET

NEW YORK — Hall of Famer Mariano Rivera tore an Achilles tendon while going after a fly ball at the New York Yankees‘ Old-Timers’ Day game on Saturday and needs surgery.

Agent Fern Cuza said the 55-year-old closer, baseball’s career leader in saves, will have the operation within a week.

In his lone at-bat, Rivera singled off former teammate Andy Pettitte and easily ran to first base. During an at-bat by Willie Randolph, Rivera took a step and fell to the ground in shallow center field behind second base.

The Yankees restored the Old-Timers’ Day game for the first time since 2019.

“It was a fun day until we heard about Mariano. Mariano hurt his Achilles,” seven-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens told WFAN broadcaster Suzyn Waldman. “I don’t know what was going on. We all thought it was a hamstring, but I think it’s a little worse than that. I think he’s at the hospital now. Unbelievable.”

Rivera was the second player to get hurt in the event since 2017. Eight years ago, former outfielder and current YES Network analyst Paul O’Neill strained a calf running to first base.

Rivera tore the ACL in his right knee in May 2012 while shagging fly balls in batting practice in Kansas City. He returned for his final season in 2013 and finished as baseball’s career saves leader with 652 and posted 42 postseason saves.

In 2019, the 13-time All-Star became the first player unanimously inducted into the Hall of Fame by getting all 425 votes in balloting conducted by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. He helped the Yankees win five World Series titles and seven American League pennants.

Rivera was playing in the Old-Timers’ game for the second time. He hit an inside-the-park homer in 2019.

The event commemorated the 25th anniversary of the 2000 championship team, the last team to win three straight World Series titles. Clemens was a first-time attendee at the event, which had captain Derek Jeter give a short video message when he was introduced following Rivera.

Before the event, Rivera said he intended to speak with struggling reliever Devin Williams, who allowed three runs in the 10th inning Friday. He has allowed nine runs in his last five appearances and 28 earned runs this year, two more than 2022-24 combined.

“Can’t do nothing about it,” Rivera said Saturday morning. “Once it’s done, it’s done. Just learn from it, move on and be confident. You have to be confident in yourself. If you’re not confident in yourself, you’re playing the wrong sport.”

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Alonso equals Strawberry’s Mets career HR mark

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August 10, 2025

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Alonso equals Strawberry's Mets career HR mark

  • ESPN News Services

Aug 9, 2025, 10:06 PM ET

MILWAUKEE — Pete Alonso hit his 252nd career home run Saturday night, tying the New York Mets record held by Darryl Strawberry for 37 years.

Alonso, 30, connected against Milwaukee Brewers starter Tobias Myers to lead off the second inning for his 26th homer this season, giving the Mets a 1-0 lead in a game they would go on to lose, 7-4. The 413-foot shot to left-center came on a 1-2 fastball at the top of the strike zone.

It was Alonso’s fourth homer in eight games, since he went deep Aug. 1 against San Francisco to end an 0-for-19 slump.

A homegrown star drafted by the Mets in 2016, Alonso broke into the big leagues with a bang in 2019, hitting 53 home runs to set a major league rookie record and establish a franchise high for a single season.

The five-time All-Star has reached 40 two other times and been one of the most consistent sluggers in baseball since his arrival. After a protracted negotiation, he returned to the Mets as a free agent in February on a two-year, $54 million contract that includes a $24 million player option for 2026, which Alonso will likely decline.

The only other active players who lead their current franchise in home runs are Manny Machado (Padres) and Mike Trout (Angels).

Giancarlo Stanton, now with the New York Yankees, holds the Miami mark with 267 for the Marlins.

Strawberry broke the previous Mets record with his 155th home run on May 3, 1988, passing Dave Kingman. Strawberry hit 252 in 1,109 games for New York during his first eight major league seasons from 1983 to 1990. He later played for the Dodgers, Giants and Yankees, finishing his 17-year career with 335 homers.

Alonso played his 963rd game Saturday night. The durable first baseman has appeared in 370 straight, a team record.

The Diamondbacks and Padres are the lone major league clubs that haven’t had a player hit more than 252 homers for them. Luis Gonzalez holds the Arizona record with 224, and Machado entered Saturday with 187 for San Diego.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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