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.
Bacteria in our mouths may hold clues about why people get migraines
Caterina Cestarelli doesn't always know what will trigger an excruciating migraine. Sometimes it's skimping on sleep or missing a meal. Other times it's smelling a powerful perfume. Whatever the trigger, it usually leads to the same place: Her tiny New York City bedroom, with lights off and blinds Read More...
Can wild seeds save us from food apocalypse?
Around the world, botanists are battling to find rare wild seed strains before they die out – helping ensure food supplies that can survive the perils of climate change. Trapped by Hitler’s soldiers during the brutal winter of 1941-42, a band of Russian botanists faced a terrible Read More...
Study suggests gut bacteria can aid recovery from spinal cord injury
Researchers from The Ohio State University have discovered that spinal cord injury alters the type of bacteria living in the gut and that these changes can exacerbate the extent of neurological damage and impair recovery of function. The study, "Gut dysbiosis impairs recovery after spinal cord Read More...
Mediterranean diet cuts macular degeneration risk by more than a third
People who closely follow the Mediterranean diet -- especially by eating fruit -- may be more than a third less likely to develop age-related macular degeneration, a leading cause of blindness, according to a study presented at AAO 2016, the 120th annual meeting of the American Academy of Read More...
10 smart food solutions for the future
Hunger and food waste are the defining characteristics of our global food system, both of which are exacerbated by a climate changing planet. By 2050 there will be more than nine billion people to feed, in a hotter and less predictable world. Rather than be daunted by the scale of the problem, and Read More...
Can environmentally focused activist shareholders transform animal-based agriculture?
When Tyson Foods invested this week in a company that makes veggie burgers, it shocked industry observers. After all, Tyson isn’t just a company that dabbles in meat — it’s America’s largest processor and seller of all things carnivorous. Indeed, there seemed to be Read More...
PepsiCo sets global target for sugar reduction
PepsiCo has set a target for reducing the amount of sugar in its soft drinks around the world as part of a suite of goals aimed at tackling problems ranging from obesity to climate change. The New York-based company will announce on Monday that by 2025 at least two thirds of its drinks will have Read More...
India's postmen to deliver custom-made weather reports to farmers
Seeing that less than half of India’s total farmland is irrigated, preparing the cropping cycle according to the weather is essential. But if the weather forecasts are inaccurate, it can result in huge losses and low income for farmers. That’s why the government is investing some $60 million on Read More...
Could this ancient farming method save farmlands effected by climate change?
In the last few decades, the ancient agriculture technique known as dry farming was practiced only by a quirky few traditionalists concerned more about tasty produce than saving water. But now as climate change starts to grip farming lands such as those in California, more farmers and winemakers Read More...
Meditation linked to lower stress among prison inmates
Prisoners who practice transcendental meditation twice a day may experience less stress and fewer mental health issues than fellow inmates who don't meditate, a small U.S. study suggests. Previous research has linked this type of meditation involving mantras and mindfulness to reduced stress in a Read More...