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.
Probiotics may ease depression symptoms
A new Canadian study finds that probiotics, used to reduce gastrointestinal distress, also appear to mitigate symptoms of depression. McMaster University researchers discovered twice as many adults with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) reported improvements from co-existing depression when they took Read More...
Vitamin D supplements could improve fertility
New data on the link between vitamin D and male fertility has been presented at the European Congress of Endocrinology (ECE) in Lisbon. The new results add to our understanding of the effects of low vitamin D levels on testosterone levels and whether vitamin D supplementation could help improve Read More...
Why a cosmetics company is turning Armenian folk remedies into products
Modern cosmetics play host to many dubious ingredients, many of which have been proven to be harmful for skin. Some ingredients have even been linked to cancer and other fatal illnesses. In order to make products that are natural and beneficial for the skin, a new cosmetics company is digging Read More...
U.S. can realize 50 percent CO2 emission reduction with trading beef for beans
Could Americans ever give up beef all together? With more than 30% of Americans now purchasing faux meat products, this growing trend suggests it may just be possible. And what a difference to the planet it would make! In fact, new research suggests that if Americans turned to beans instead of Read More...
How taking care of your gut bacteria could improve your anxiety
In the past 30 years, there has been a massive decline in the development of strategies to treat anxiety and mood disorders. Focusing less narrowly on the brain itself and more on gut bacteria could redefine the way we approach mental health. The stall in conventional treatments has happened Read More...
Eating nuts reduces the risk of cancer recurring by 42 percent
Nuts and especially tree nuts such as hazelnuts, chestnuts and walnuts reduce the chances of the cancer coming back, a new study shows. People eating two ounces a handful or more of nuts every week reduce the risk of cancer recurring by 42 percent, and lower their chances of dying from the cancer Read More...
Uber for wine: and all without grapes
The most fascinating wine project I’ve come across this year has no need for vineyards, barrels, or,a winery. It doesn’t even use grapes. If you believe what the people behind the project say, they could be on the brink of challenging everything that people hold dear about wine. Though they Read More...
New study measures food waste not in dollars or tons, but in ‘lost’ health
Americans waste 38 million tons of food with a value of $165 billion each year. Reducing food waste is a major contribution to fighting global warming as agriculture is a leading source of carbon emissions. A new report looks at food waste from the perspective of “lost” health. If all that lost Read More...
Zinc lozenges can help you get rid of your cold 3 times faster
If you need to get rid of the common cold quickly, zinc lozenges may be the answer. In meta-analysis of three studies, researchers found that zinc lozenges, which can be commonly found at any drug store, may triple the rate of recovery from the cold. Although the researchers do warn that the doses Read More...
Could plant chemicals provide a healthier contraceptive for women?
Women who struggle with side effects of the contraceptive pill may soon have a new option, thanks to the discovery of a non-hormonal method of contraception. Scientists uncovered that two compounds normally found in wild plants have the ability to stop fertilization by preventing sperm from Read More...