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.
Being ‘hangry’ exists: why a lack of food can change your mood
Ever felt hungry and angry at the same time? There’s evidence that “hanger” is a real phenomenon, one that can affect your work and relationships. The main reason we become more irritable when hungry is because our blood glucose level drops. This can make it difficult for us to Read More...
New study shows mindfulness motivates people to make healthier choices
"Smoking causes wrinkles that age you prematurely. What are cigarettes costing you?" "150 minutes of exercise a week reduces the risk of cancer." "2,000 calories a day is all most adults should eat." We hear so many well-meaning and well-researched messages about how to be healthier, and for many, Read More...
Boosting the solar protection factor with nature-inspired sunscreens
The ideal sunscreen should block UVB and UVA radiation while being safe and stable. In the journal Angewandte Chemie, Spanish scientists have introduced a new family of UVA and UVB filters based on natural sunscreen substances found in algae and cyanobacteria. They are highly stable and enhance the Read More...
France bans unlimited soda refills in an effort to reduce obesity
Despite the fact that the level of obesity in France is below the EU average, research shows it's on the rise. That’s why lawmakers in France have banned all restaurants and other spaces catering to the public from offering unlimited sugary soft drinks. The World Health Organization has shown Read More...
Research: Boost your brain power by eating these things
The harsh reality is that we're not getting any younger, and with aging come consequences, like losing your mental acuity. Translation: Forgetting names! OK, I'll speak for me. But it does happen more frequently now that I'm north of 40. You meet someone over lunch, perhaps a prospective new client Read More...
The fascinating way age will improve your personality
There are three things that naturally happen to people’s personality with age. People get nicer as they get older, in contrast to the stereotype of the grumpy senior. The finding may be a surprise to those that believe people never change. They do — even if only a little. The three Read More...
Study shows that compound in broccoli, celery and thyme blocks breast cancer
The compound luteolin—found in broccoli, celery, thyme and parsley—does what chemotherapy can’t: It can locate triple-negative cancer cells and stops them metastasizing or spreading. Triple-negative breast cancer cells are so called because they lack three receptors that chemotherapy drugs Read More...
New meditation program is having a powerful impact in women's prisons
Currently, there are over one million women behind bars in the U.S. According to the ACLU, the incarceration rate for women has been growing nearly twice as fast as men since 1985. Incarcerated women have much higher incidences of emotional and sexual abuse compared to imprisoned men with 75 to 90 Read More...
Study: For anxiety, mindfulness meditation works
A clinical trial backed by the National Institutes of Health has provided new evidence that mindfulness meditation effectively fights anxiety. Researchers from Georgetown University Medical Center's Department of Psychiatry worked with 89 patients diagnosed with anxiety disorders to Read More...
A new label stimulates farmers to convert to organic agriculture
Moving from conventional to organic agriculture poses challenges for farmers. The conversion usually takes three years. That time costs money, and the benefits of better prices only come when the organic certification has been granted. A new U.S. government program sets up a national Read More...