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.
The data are in: Eat right, avoid diabetes
Here’s a new medical study with a conclusion that might just change your life: eat healthy. Sure, you’ve heard it before, but this time the benefit is the prevention of diabetes. That’s a big deal, especially if, like so many other people. you are at risk for the disease. More on Read More...
Researchers discover cancer-killing mechanism in Indian pepper plant
Researchers have uncovered cancer fighting properties in a spicy Indian pepper plant called the long pepper. Suspected of having medicinal properties for thousands of years, researchers have now found that a chemical within the long pepper called piperlongumine (PL) can silence a gene that is often Read More...
Living near heavy traffic increases dementia risk, say scientists
People living near a busy road have an increased risk of dementia, according to research that adds to concerns about the impact of air pollution on human health. Roughly one in 10 cases of Alzheimer’s in urban areas could be associated with living amid heavy traffic, the study estimated Read More...
Buy this container for $50,000 and start growing enough food for 150 people
Along with clean energy and water systems, an off-the-grid community needs a way to produce enough food for all its members. The Farm From a Box, complete with solar-powered electrical system, WiFi, and much more can help any off-the-grid village do just that. The portable container costs $50,000, Read More...
Forget survival of the fittest: it is kindness that counts
Why do people do good things? Is kindness hard-wired into the brain, or does this tendency arise via experience? Or is goodness some combination of nature and nurture? Dacher Keltner, director of the Berkeley Social Interaction Laboratory, investigates these questions from multiple angles, and Read More...
Omega-3 supplements can help prevent childhood asthma, study finds
Science News from research organizations Date: Source: University of Waterloo Summary: Taking certain omega-3 fatty acid supplements during pregnancy can reduce the risk of childhood asthma by almost one third, according to a new study. Share: FULL STORY Taking certain omega-3 fatty acid Read More...
Scientists manipulate brain activity to boost confidence
What does confidence look like in the brain? And can we use this information to help boost confidence in those who suffer from low self-esteem or self-doubt? A new study sheds light on these questions with a new brain-scanning technique that can read and amplify the brainwaves of a high-confidence Read More...
The beating heart of solar energy
The notion of using solar cells placed under the skin to continuously recharge implanted electronic medical devices is a viable one. Swiss researchers have done the math, and found that a 3.6 square centimeter solar cell is all that is needed to generate enough power during winter and summer to Read More...
May we suggest one resolution for this new year? Cut back on sugar!
If you want to make one lifestyle change to invest in your health this year, cutting back on your sugar consumption may very well be your best bet. In his new book “The Case Against Sugar” Gary Taubes convincingly argues that sugar is at the root of all “the diseases of westernization,” Read More...
Garment once used for astronauts is now saving women in developing countries
Excessive bleeding after giving birth is a particular problem amongst mothers in developing countries, accounting for up to 60 percent of maternal mortality cases. That’s why researchers have recreated a suit originally used to help astronauts during extreme acceleration into a version that Read More...