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.
Extra virgin olive oil preserves memory and protects brain against Alzheimer’s
The Mediterranean diet, rich in plant-based foods, is associated with a variety of health benefits, including a lower incidence of dementia. Now, researchers at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University (LKSOM) have identified a specific ingredient that protects against cognitive Read More...
Red onions are an effective cancer-fighting food, study shows
Red onions are a potent cancer-fighting food. In a new study, researchers tested five different types of onions on cancer cells and found that the pigment of red onions combined with another chemical called quercetin work to kill colon and breast cancer cells. In fact, the pigment seems to Read More...
Study: Yoga and meditation can change your stress-related genes
Inflammation can temporarily boost the immune system, and can be protective against infection and injury. But in today’s society, in which stress is primarily psychological, the body’s inflammatory response can become chronic and can impair both physical and mental health. In a new scientific Read More...
Broccoli extract helps obese patients combat Type 2 diabetes
A promising new study suggests that doctors might soon be prescribing a pill containing an antioxidant found in broccoli to obese patients with Type 2 diabetes. Swedish scientists discovered that sulforaphane, a powerhouse antioxidant found in the vegetable, helped overweight people reduce blood Read More...
Acupuncture could serve as a drug-free pain reliever in emergency rooms
The world’s largest randomized controlled trial of acupuncture in emergency departments found that it is a safe and effective alternative to pain-relieving drugs. Although it's not a common pain reliever in the emergency room, a trial at a hospital in Melbourne found acupuncture provided Read More...
Switzerland leads world in terms of innovation, India and Kenya begin to rise
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) states that innovation is key to sustaining the productivity growth required to meet the rising demand for sustainable food production, processing, distribution, consumption and waste management known as food systems. As it turns out, the most Read More...
Power causes brain damage
If power were a prescription drug, it would come with a long list of known side effects. It can intoxicate. It can corrupt. It can even make Henry Kissinger believe that he’s sexually magnetic. But can it cause brain damage? When various lawmakers lit into John Stumpf at a congressional hearing Read More...
A friendly Father’s Day reminder: Men, don’t ignore your biological clock
When Rahsaan Williams was buying his last car four years ago, he asked a lot of questions at the dealership about whether each model he looked at was kid-friendly. How easily could a car seat be installed? Were the seat belts adjustable so they wouldn’t choke a child once she was big enough to Read More...
People eat more greens when vegetables are given seductive names
Most guidelines recommend that we eat at least five portions of vegetables and fruit per day. A recent study in the U.K. shows that two-thirds of the population eat three or fewer portions. So how can we stimulate people to eat more healthy food? Well, give vegetables seductive names, says new Read More...
Surprising new link between inflammation and mental illness
Up to 75 percent of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus — an incurable autoimmune disease commonly known as “lupus” — experience neuropsychiatric symptoms. But so far, our understanding of the mechanisms underlying lupus’ effects on the brain has remained murky. Read More...