Health
Finding good health news amidst a pandemic can be quite daunting. That’s not the case with The Optimist Daily, where positive news is in high supply. Our Health section covers the latest good news from the health sector, featuring solutions ranging from mental and physical health to immunity, nutrition, and cutting edge medical research.
Why meditation is the new power lunch
The latest wellness trend spreading throughout the U.S. has nothing to do with exercise or nutrition. Instead, people are heading to studios to sit with their breath and their thoughts. Yes, meditation is drawing crowds, according to this Washington Post piece. In Washington D.C. alone, three new Read More...
Mediterranean diet now also linked to preventing dementia
Many studies show the benefits of the Mediterranean diet around vegetables, fish, grains and olive oil for healthier hearts, longer lives, stronger bones along with a reduced risk for diabetes and high blood pressure. A new study adds a new benefit to the list: the Mediterranean diet lowers your Read More...
Happiness can affect physical health
Subjective well-being may exert its effects on physical health through health behaviors, as well as through the immune and cardiovascular systems. Although scientists still are exploring and debating when happiness most affects health, there is no doubt that it can do so. With more research, it may Read More...
Forest bathing: A retreat to nature can boost immunity and mood
When my editors asked me to report on forest bathing, I packed a swimsuit. I assumed it must involve a dip in the water. It turns out, my interpretation was too literal. I met certified Forest Therapy guide Melanie Choukas-Bradley and several other women who'd come along for the adventure at the Read More...
These foods and nutrients can boost your mood and reduce symptoms of depression
Your diet influences your mood. In a recent study, a group of people with moderate to severe depression adopted a diet that encouraged eating whole foods while discouraging things such as refined foods, sweets, and fried food. After 12 weeks, the participants showed improvements in their mood and Read More...
Prince Charles opens 'holistic' clinic at stately home he saved for nation
Prince Charles is creating a state-of-the-art clinic that will offer free ‘holistic’ care for patients referred by NHS doctors. Charles, who has faced criticism in the past for his support for complementary health therapies, has won backing from the NHS and local authorities for Read More...
The neuroscience of inequality: does poverty show up in children's brains?
With its bright colors, anthropomorphic animal motif and nautical-themed puzzle play mat, Dr Kimberly Noble’s laboratory at Columbia University in New York looks like your typical day-care centre – save for the team of cognitive neuroscientists observing kids from behind a large two-way Read More...
Study: Having a sense of purpose may improve your sleep quality
Sleep quality has been linked with everything from diet and exercise to electronic screen use, and now a new study suggests that something a little less tangible may play a role: A sense of purpose. The finding could be especially important for older adults, the researchers say, since insomnia and Read More...
Doctors Without Borders have created a mobile hospital on a trailer
Each year, Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) attempts to do more with less money, and this year that enforced ingenuity has spawned a truly remarkable concept—the Mobile Unit Surgical Trailer (MUST). The MUST is a complete mobile hospital on wheels, fully equipped with recovery Read More...
Coffee drinkers really do live longer
Coffee drinkers rejoice! A mountain of evidence tells us that those who regularly drink coffee have a lower risk of diabetes, fewer strokes and heart problems and lower rates of certain cancers. All of that may explain why coffee drinkers tend to live longer than those who don’t drink the brew. Read More...