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.
Brain stimulation for patients with anorexia is safe and might improve symptoms
Small study in 16 people suggests technique is safe and might help improve mood, anxiety and wellbeing, while increasing weight. Deep brain stimulation might alter the brain circuits that drive anorexia nervosa symptoms and help improve patients' mental and physical health, according to a small Read More...
Dietary supplement shows promise in treatment of sleep apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea, which causes people to briefly stop breathing while asleep, affects an estimated 5 percent of the population, not including the many more who don’t even realize they suffer from the disorder. Patients are sometimes treated with a machine that blows air into the Read More...
Meditation benefits ALS patients
An eight-week mindfulness-based meditation program led to improved quality of life and psychological well-being in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), according to new research. In a randomized, open-label, and controlled clinical trial that included 100 patients, participants who Read More...
Forget the hangover, under-25s turn to mindful drinking
Forget pub crawls – increasing numbers of young people are replacing beer and wine with “mindful drinking” – where abstinence, not alcohol, is all the rage. A fifth of British adults under-25 are teetotal, according to the Office for National Statistics, and numbers are on the rise. Read More...
Post organic? The sustainability of vertical indoor farming
Agriculture consumes 70 percent of available water globally, and over 700 million pounds of pesticides each year in the United States alone. And with a growing world population food production needs to increase in the decades ahead. That is why a New Jersey company advocates sustainable vertical Read More...
A tortured love for vitamin D
Before there was Vitaminwater, there was vitamin beer. In 1936, the Joseph Schlitz Brewing Company promised that its Sunshine Vitamin D Beer would “give you the vitamin D you need for year round vigorous health.” One ad explained: “Modern living; clothing; clouds and smoke; hours Read More...
Venom from a small snail could be used for treatment for chronic pain
This small sea snail, a native of the Caribbean, uses its venom to paralyze or kill its prey. However, scientists have discovered that the venom contains a compound that appears to act as long-lasting pain relief. The findings show it may be possible to create a new pain therapy for chronic pain Read More...
Deregulation bills support local and home-made foods
Selling and distributing food needs regulation for packaging, labeling, and inspection to protect the consumer. That makes sense when it comes to supermarkets and restaurants. However, increasingly such regulation stands in the way of local food entrepreneurs who sell directly to local consumers. Read More...
Acupuncture shows promise in migraine treatment, study says
Lack of relief is leading migraine sufferers to seek alternative treatment options. A study found that acupuncture may be helpful in reducing the frequency of migraines. "I can get about 20 headaches in a month on a bad month," one veteran said (CNN). When most people get a headache, a simple Read More...
Astaxanthin demonstrates significant whole body benefits
Astaxanthin, which is part of the carotenoid family, is thought to be the most potent antioxidant nature has to offer, and mounting research suggests it has broad-spectrum, system-wide health benefits. It's derived from Haematococcus microalgae, which produces astaxanthin as a protective mechanism Read More...