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.
Impact of feet hitting the ground opens up arteries and increases blood flow
Knotting up your trainers and going on a walk or run is widely known to benefit the heart, but did you know that it also improves long-term brain function? New research suggests that the impact of the foot hitting the ground sends pressure waves through the arteries, significantly increasing the Read More...
Sound waves enhance deep sleep and memory
Gentle sound stimulation — such as the rush of a waterfall — synchronized to the rhythm of brain waves significantly enhanced deep sleep in older adults and improved their ability to recall words, reports a new Northwestern Medicine study. Deep sleep is critical for memory consolidation. But Read More...
This type of exercise may help you live longer
In a recent study, researchers found that a specific type of exercise called high-intensity interval training (HIIT) can boost your chances of living longer. HIIT, whether in the form of cycling or weight training, improves age-related decline in muscle mitochondria, the cellular powerhouses that Read More...
IllumiBowl's latest toilet light also kills germs
IllumiBowl's motion-activated, multi-color toilet night light may have seemed like a silly idea when it first launched, but don't laugh -- it's a practical solution if you'd rather not flick on the regular bathroom light (and momentarily blind yourself) just to do your business. And it appears that Read More...
Purify the air in your home or office with this wall of plants
A company based in Finland has developed a remotely-monitored smart wall of plants that constantly purifies indoor air. The wall requires little to no management from the owner, and provides a steady supply of clean air. With an online design guide, the plant walls are easily customized to the Read More...
Ayahuasca: Psychedelic drug or mental health treatment?
Every year, thousands of people travel to the Amazon to drink the ayahuasca brew that puts them in a state of deep introspection for about four hours. When they emerge, they often report newfound insights into their unhealthy behaviors. While these stories sound amazing, is it really possible to Read More...
Study: Biking to work cuts risk of cancer and heart disease in half
The commute to work doesn’t have to be an annoying part of the day. Rather, the commute can be something that is beneficial, that is, if you use a bicycle as your vehicle. In a five-year study of 250,000 commuters in the UK, researchers found that riding a bike to work was linked with a halving Read More...
2 big lessons from the biggest happiness study ever conducted
If you want to study happiness, you first have to define what you mean by the word. There are the momentary pleasures of a great glass of wine, a smile on a child's face, or a soft couch after a long day. But there are also deeper meanings of the word. The ancient Greek word for Read More...
Umbilical cord blood could slow brain's ageing, study suggests
Scientists have reversed memory and learning problems in aged mice with infusions of a protein found in human umbilical cord blood. The striking results have raised hopes for a treatment that staves off mental decline in old age, but researchers stressed that more studies, including human trials, Read More...
This fancy food market is localizing produce, and saving "The Last Supper"
Remember this name: Eataly. It's an Italian food market that specializes in bringing only the best of ingredients and fine Italian foods to shoppers eager for locally-made foods. Wherever Eataly sets up shop whether, in New York City or Munich, the company sources nearly all the products from Read More...