Raisin: Expert opinions, health risks, and more

• The fiber present in raisins may cause digestion issues such as gas, bloating and cramps that is if the raisins are consumed in large quantities.

Relief for 1.7million Britons suffering urinary tract infections

Britons suffering agonising and recurring bladder infections could soon be treated with a new form of antibiotic that has never been used anywhere else in the world.

Experts have hailed gepotidacin as a huge step forward in the fight against antibiotic resistance, because the bugs have not had a chance to become resistant to its attacks. They believe this means it will be able to fight off aggressive urinary tract infections (UTIs) that don’t respond to current antibiotics.

Up to 1.7 million Britons – the majority of whom are women – suffer from chronic UTIs, classed as three or more infections a year.

Symptoms include a burning pain when going to the toilet, going more often than usual and feeling like you need to go when the bladder is empty. In older patients, the infection can cause a dementia-like condition called delirium. There is also a risk of sepsis, which accounts for about 50,000 deaths a year.

Symptoms include a burning pain when going to the toilet, going more often than usual and feeling like you need to go when the bladder is empty. In older patients, the infection can cause a dementia-like condition called delirium© Provided by Daily Mail

Gepotidacin is also expected to be used to treat a number of other diseases including the sexually transmitted infection gonorrhoea, which is one of the most drug-resistant bacterial diseases in the world. GSK, the pharmaceutical firm behind gepotidacin, plans to apply for US approval by spring, and experts say it will likely be given the NHS green light within the next two years.

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Expert opinion from Cassia D Muller

Bacteria on tongue may cause 'serious infections' in the heart and brain - what to avoid

There are billions of bacteria in the mouth, some of which reside exclusively on the tongue. Occasionally, these enter the blood through ulcers or other openings in the gums, allowing the entry of various circulating bacteria into the blood. Once in the systemic circulation, bacteria can prove fatal it if travels to the wrong places. This is because the body risks contracting serious infections.

Tongue scraping is advocated as an oral hygiene practice for the prevention of cavities and bad breath, which it does by reducing bacteria count in the mouth.

In fact, some literature states the practice is marginally more effective than the use of toothbrushes in managing halitosis (bad breath).

In some patients with vulnerable heart valves, the practice may carry a hidden risk of bacteraemia.

"The practice of tongue scraping [...] has not been well studied, and both the magnitude and frequency of bacteraemia may be greater than with routine brushing," explains a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).