Mandy Oaklander | August 05, 2026

Few things feel more summery than slurping oysters by the seaside. But Vibrio vulnificus, the warm-water-loving, flesh-eating bacteria that can make people sick when they eat raw shellfish or swim with a cut, is scary enough to put me off $1-oyster happy hours forever.

Florida recently reported its first death of the year linked to the bacteria (though officials did not say how the person got infected). My colleague Dominique Mosbergen wrote about what you can do to stay safe from Vibrio vulnificus. The No. 1 piece of advice, unfortunately? “Don’t eat raw oysters in the summer,” one expert said.

TODAY’S TOPICS

How to talk about weight loss
Wisdom from hospice workers
Got a question for us?

MORNING CHAT

Should you ever comment on a stranger’s weight?

Every day, social media sites are flooded with comments dissecting celebrities' bodies and urging thin influencers to seek help. Is that a good thing or a bad thing? I wondered. I asked Dr. Jennifer L. Gaudiani, an eating disorder specialist, how she thinks people should navigate those situations. —Angela Haupt

This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.

Photo-Illustration by TIME (Source Image: AnnaStills/Getty Images)

Lately I've noticed people leaving comments on thin influencers' posts saying things like, "Please get help." Are comments like that appropriate?

If someone has chosen to put themselves into a public forum where their body is part of what they're presenting, I do think it's possible to express concern—but it has to come from kindness, not judgment. Instead of criticizing, you might simply say: "When I see this, I worry about your health, and I wish the best for you." That's a very different message than piling on with shame.

What should people do if looking at someone's content is becoming upsetting or triggering?

Unfollow them. If someone seems to be promoting a body type or lifestyle that feels unhealthy to you, you don't have to keep consuming that content. It's a practical choice that protects your own well-being—and it also changes your algorithm.

What's the guiding principle you come back to whenever conversations about body size happen online?

When in doubt, lead with kindness, compassion, gentleness, and avoid making assumptions. We almost never know the full story of what's happening in another person's life. If we're going to engage at all, that's the place to start.

Read the story here.

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TIME TO TALK

What to say to someone who is dying

Photo-Illustration by TIME (Source Image: Peter Dazeley—Getty Images)

There’s enormous pressure to find the perfect words at the end of someone’s life. But people who work alongside the dying say there’s no perfect script—and your presence may matter more than anything you say.

Don’t wait for the right moment

If you’re wondering if it’s time to visit, go now. Families often assume there will be more time, but the window for a real conversation can close earlier than expected. Say the loving things you might otherwise save for a memorial while the person can still hear them.

State the obvious—and then listen

Start simply: “I love you.” “Thank you.” “You’ve been so important to me.” If the relationship has been complicated, “Please forgive me” and “I forgive you” can bring peace, too. Then make room for whatever comes next. Don’t rush to reassure them or reach for a platitude. Sometimes the most loving thing you can do is sit close, hold their hand, and listen. —Angela Haupt

Read the rest of the piece here.

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PLEASE ADVISE

Ask the health team

Have a burning health or wellness question? Wondering how to handle a tricky social situation? Email us at healthmatters@time.com, and we may tackle it in a future edition of the newsletter.

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WHAT WE’RE READING

Researchers are developing biological-age tests and anti-aging treatments for dogs, hoping they'll help pets live longer—and teach us something about human aging, reports Saabira Chaudhuri for the Wall Street Journal.
Some members of the Trump Administration are eating a diet consisting largely of beef and fermented vegetables. For the New York Times Magazine, Willy Staley tried it out.
“Super movers,” people 80 and older who can walk faster than their peers, are less likely to have cognitive decline, columnist Gretchen Reynolds writes for the Washington Post.