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.
Study: A low-carb diet is key to fighting cancer, heart disease and arthritis
Yet another study shows that reducing carbohydrates (“carbs”) such as bread and pasta, kickstarts your immune system to fight disease. When we digest carbs, we create sugar. That’s vital for energy. However, one of the sugar components, glucose, also interferes with some of the body’s Read More...
Can mindfulness reduce fear of labour and postpartum depression?
Many women feel anxious about giving birth. Fear of the unknown and over-sharing by others (“I felt I was ripped apart,” one mother told my antenatal group) can make labour daunting. Being frightened of childbirth can prolong labour – by an average of 47 minutes, but it feels Read More...
Treating depression with software
A treatment for depression using Emotional Faces Memory Task (EFMT), a technology originally developed by two Mount Sinai researchers, resulted in a significantly greater reduction of major depressive disorder (MDD) symptoms compared to a control group, according to initial clinical results Read More...
Pesticides can cause brain damage and organic food is the future, EU report says
After members of the European Parliament asked experts whether organic food was truly healthier than conventionally grown food, the experts returned with an array of studies highlighting the danger of pesticides in non-organic food. One study found that pregnant women who had traces of pesticides Read More...
How to maintain, or even improve, your memory as you age
As you age, some slowdown in memory and processing is to be expected. That can mean a forgotten birthday, an accidentally retold story, a temporarily misplaced wallet. Such run-of-the-mill forgetfulness may increase over the years but is usually not — as you may fear — a sign that Read More...
MindCotine uses VR to help you kick the smoking habit
MindCotine wants you to kick the smoking habit, and it is enlisting virtual reality to help. The Redwood City, CA. based company has created a VR app that combines mindfulness practices, psychological therapies, and community engagement to fight nicotine addiction. The company has launched its Read More...
Silk implant can patch up damaged eardrums naturally
Currently, the standard procedure for repairing eardrums is a delicate affair that often requires additional procedures. Thanks to a new silk implant developed by a team of Australian researchers, it takes just one simple surgery to do the trick. The silk implant, called the ClearDrum, is strong Read More...
This supplement can effectively reduce pain for people with osteoarthritis
New research suggests there may be a better way to take care of osteoarthritis. In a study, researchers found that chondroitin supplements are as effective at reducing pain and improving movement as the commonly prescribed drug celecoxib—but without all the dangerous side effects such as stomach Read More...
Companies are bringing menstrual products to women who can’t afford them
In some developing countries, women are often without basic menstrual products, forcing them to rely on unthinkable things such as old rags. To bring menstrual hygiene to the women who truly need it, a growing crop of companies are adopting a business strategy similar to Toms shoes, which gives Read More...
Chocolate is delicious, it also lowers the risks of irregular heartbeat
This is close to a perfect world: Eating what you love and taking care of your health at the same time. A new study shows that eating some chocolate at least once a week reduces the risk of irregular heartbeat, a common problem that affects one in four people at some time. The amount that needs to Read More...