Florida braces for Hurricane Idalia.

Food brands embrace the 'swice.' Plus, the benefits of silent walking. August 29, 2023 | [VIEW IN BROWSER]( This is TODAY August 29, 2023 | [VIEW IN BROWSER]( This is TODAY Hurricane Idalia is bearing down on Florida with a threat of damaging winds and life-threatening storm surge. Plus, an Army veteran shares how a swollen knee doctors thought was just a sprain turned out to be a case of flesh-eating bacteria, and experts explain how "silent walking" can help clear your mind and reduce stress. The Latest   [🌀 Idalia is expected to hit Florida as a Category 3 hurricane tomorrow.]( Idalia has strengthened into a hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph as of this morning and could [become a powerful Category 3 hurricane]( by the time it makes landfall in Florida tomorrow, the National Hurricane Center said. The system threatens to bring heavy rains, damaging winds and life-threatening storm surges to parts of the Florida Gulf Coast. “This is going to be a major hurricane,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said at a news conference yesterday. The hurricane was about 370 miles [southwest of Tampa]( as of this morning, the National Hurricane Center reported. [Here's the latest](. [A military veteran thought her 'giant leg' was a knee sprain. It was flesh-eating bacteria](. Army veteran Jennifer Barlow came back from a vacation to the Bahamas in January and noticed her [right knee ballooning up]( and feeling hot to the touch. Doctors treated it as a sprained knee, but it kept getting bigger, eventually resembling "a giant's leg," she said. Then, one day, her brother found her passed out on the floor and rushed her to the hospital. Barlow was in septic shock and had signs of organ failure from necrotizing fasciitis, an infection that causes [flesh-eating disease](. “I was confused and scared,” she told us. “I had never heard of flesh-eating bacteria.” She was in a coma for 10 days, underwent 12 surgeries, and ultimately had to have most of her right leg amputated. [Read her story here](. [🔥 Why is everything suddenly 'swicy'? Food brands are embracing the sweet-heat trend.]( Forget sweet and salty, it's all about [sweet and spicy]( right now. The era of "swicy" is sweeping menus around the country, as the popularity of condiments like [hot honey]( surges, especially among Gen Z. There's also a bourbon bacon jam with jalapenos at Shake Shack, Sweet & Spicy Noodles at Momofuku Goods and the growing popularity of "swicy" drinks like jalapeño tequilas as a choice for spicy margaritas. [See what's behind the trend here](. [🧹 7 Amazon home essentials for storage, laundry and more.]( Save yourself some time around the house so you can enjoy the holiday weekend by grabbing these[7 home essentials]( that make day-to-day cleaning and organizing easier. Our Shop TODAY team has top-rated finds for a silicone broom, a cabinet basket organizer, magnetic hooks and more that you can scoop up on Amazon. [See them all here](. Start TODAY   Achieve your life and health goals with easy tips. Going for a walk without podcasts or music? People do that? In fact, it's recommended. Clear your mind, reduce stress and take some time with your inner thoughts by trying ["silent walking."]( It may be trending on TikTok, but it's no recent phenomenon; it's an ancient practice used by Zen Buddhist monks as a form of meditation. It means going on a walk without any distractions. "No phone, no walking buddy, no dog," clinical psychologist Dr. Juanita Guerra told TODAY.com. Lalah Delia, author of the mindfulness book “Vibrate Higher Daily," told us that removing all that stimulation and spending time in nature "allows the mind to shift into a different mode of rest and focus." Here's [how to get into "silent walking,"]( the benefits you can expect, and what to do if you live in a noisy part of town. What's for dinner?   Allow us to do the meal-planning for you. If you're looking for a quick and tasty item to bring to a Labor Day cookout this weekend, serve up this [peach salad with goat cheese and candied walnuts]( from TODAY's Francesca Cocchi Zabloudil. A simple coating of melted coconut oil and brown sugar on the walnuts amps up the flavor, and ripe peaches combine with the goat cheese for a creamy texture. [Get the recipe](. Daily Delight   A little pick-me-up before you go. Welcome to the [great "Snake or Bacon?" debate](of 2023. A trio of adorable [3-year-old triplets]( from Utah had a serious and hilarious discussion about what exactly an object on their kitchen floor was. The scene was shared on Instagram by mom Alyssa McEwen that showed Georgia, Staten and Miley Mae trying to determine if an object on their floor was [a piece of bacon or a snake](. At one point, Georgia observes that “it’s sleeping,” while Staten notes that he likes the way it moves. “I don’t think they’ve ever seen a snake before," McEwen told us. "The only thing I can think of is there is this new series on Disney Plus called, ‘Something Bit Me,’ and the older kids have been watching that." [See the cute video here](.   Thanks for letting us in your inbox! See you again tomorrow morning. Written by Scott Stump | Edited by Philip Caulfield Want to refer a friend?[Subscribe here]( Send us Feedback Follow us on Facebook More TODAY Newsletters 30 Rockefeller Plaza New York, NY 10112 [Manage Subscriptions]( | [Unsubscribe](listvar=sub_today) | [Privacy]( | [Contact]( [MANAGE SUBSCRIPTION]( | [UNSUBSCRIBE](listvar=sub_today) | [PRIVACY]( | [CONTACT](