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.
This lab-made probiotic fights off infections from unfriendly bacteria
As scientists continue their exploration of the thousands of organisms that live inside our body, a new study is showing just how much one “good” bacteria can be exploited to its host’s advantage. Scientists were able to engineer this bacteria to find and attack a harmful pathogen Read More...
Deep breathing brings peace and scientists are discovering why
Take a deep breath. Mothers and meditation teachers have said it for ages: Breathing reduces stress and anxiety and brings peace. But why? For the first time, scientists have uncovered why taking deep breaths is so calming. Working with mice, they found that taking deep breaths is calming because Read More...
Probiotics show promise in easing some schizophrenia symptoms
Adding probiotics to the diets of patients with schizophrenia may help treat yeast infections and bowel problems (common conditions in schizophrenia), and in some cases, reduce positive psychiatric symptoms, such as delusions, hallucinations, and hostility, according to a small pilot study at Johns Read More...
Silicon Valley launches a new movement that could be the future of medicine
Forward is Silicon Valley's futuristic doctor's office that looks "like an Apple Store meets 'Westworld.'" For $150 a month, it acts as your primary care provider, along with providing some extra perks and technology used with the intent to keep you healthier. It's a type of Read More...
High doses of vitamin C help cancer treatments work better
According to a new study, giving cancer patients high doses of vitamin C during their treatment may weaken cancer cells and make them more vulnerable to the effects of chemotherapy and radiation. 93 percent of the people in the study receiving vitamin C infusions responded to chemotherapy and Read More...
Is neuroscience rediscovering the soul?
The idea that neuroscience is rediscovering the soul is, to most scientists and philosophers, nothing short of outrageous. Of course it is not. But the widespread, adverse, knee-jerk attitude presupposes the old-fashioned definition of the soul — the ethereal, immaterial entity that somehow Read More...
Research: Deep sleep may act as fountain of youth in old age
As we grow old, our nights are frequently plagued by bouts of wakefulness, bathroom trips and other nuisances as we lose our ability to generate the deep, restorative slumber we enjoyed in youth. But that does not mean the elderly need less sleep, according to Read More...
Replacing hospital noise with soothing sounds that promote peace and healing
Hospitals are home to a cacophony of noisy alarms. In fact, the average hospital racks up 135 alarms per patient per day. These alarms can create a sense of nervousness and anxiety in a setting meant for healing, which is why an ambient musician has set out to replace the buzzing and beeping of Read More...
Man moves paralyzed legs using device that stimulates spinal cord
A new study reports researchers have successfully used electrical stimulation on the spinal cord of a paralyzed patient to allow him to stand, move his legs and make stepping motions. Source: Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic researchers used electrical stimulation on the spinal cord and intense physical Read More...
A new treatment could bring some relief for Alzheimer's very soon
If trials conclude successfully later this year, a new drug will provide some relief for people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. It would be the first new treatment for the disease available in over a decade. The drug works by increasing the release of a chemical in the brain that plays an Read More...