Today’s Solutions: August 23, 2026

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.

British Columbia

British Columbia decriminalizes small amounts of drugs to reduce deaths

Opioid-related deaths linked to fentanyl have more than doubled in Canada over the last five years. British Columbia has been one the hardest-hit regions, with deaths spiking during the Pandemic, and has asked for federal permission to decriminalize drugs.  The government is now launching an Read More...

Coffee

Study suggests lower risk of early death for coffee drinkers

The United States drinks around 517 million cups of coffee every day. While caffeine can be a tough habit to kick, researchers are finding more and more health benefits to coffee. Health advantages range from reduced risk of heart attacks to treatment for ADHD.  Now, researchers in China found Read More...

Man in grey t shirt isolated against yellow background smelling something stinky and disgusting.

New study sniffs out cause of parosmia, disordered smells

What’s your favorite smell? Is it the whiff of freshly ground coffee in the morning or blossoms in spring? Whatever it may be, imagine a world where this sense is distorted and sometimes disturbing. This is the reality for people living with parosmia, a disease that can turn the smell of freshly Read More...

Chicago internet

Chicago Connected gave internet to 64,000 children in need

When the Pandemic hit and students went home for school, many lower-income families were disadvantaged due to a lack of reliable internet. In Chicago, many students in lower-income neighborhoods couldn’t get their work done, so the city decided to take action.  In March 2020, the city started Read More...

Heart research

BU-led team aims to treat heart disease by growing new heart tissue

The heart is arguably the hardest-working and most important organ in the body. Starting the moment it’s formed in the womb the heart has to keep working for the rest of our lives. What’s more daunting is that the heart can’t repair itself. Once a ventricle or aorta is damaged, the heart just Read More...

Overhead view of brown chicken eggs in an open egg carton isolated on a yellow background.

Study shows how eggs could make our hearts healthier

Eggs are delicious and diverse foods. You can scramble, fry, bake, or poach then, depending on your mood. Not only do they taste great, but they are also an excellent source of dietary protein, cholesterol, and a variety of essential nutrients. There have been numerous papers looking at the Read More...

Medication Gels

Plant-based-oil gel helps the medicine go down

It isn’t just children who can have trouble swallowing pills. Some adults find it difficult too, for example, adults who have suffered a stroke and need certain medications.  Researchers from MIT and Brigham and Women’s Hospital developed a drug-delivering gel that is easier to swallow and Read More...

Shy caucasian man hiding behind his white shirt

8 ways to manage social anxiety and feelings of shyness

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Though social anxiety and shyness aren’t synonymous, there is a lot of overlap between them. Social anxiety disorder is a relentless fear of being judged or watched that can escalate to high levels of intensity, while shyness is the feeling of discomfort Read More...

Green tea

Five health benefits of green tea

We’re already feeling the heat from summer, but that doesn’t mean we still can’t enjoy a contemplative cup of warm tea. The process of making a traditional cup of green tea is involved and can begin the day with a comforting structure. Even if you don’t want a warm cup, you can put it on Read More...

Drinking Water

Massachusetts sues 15 companies for contaminating drinking water with PFAs

Poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have become a widespread health concern. These forever chemicals have been linked to thyroid disease, kidney damage, and certain cancers. They take a very long time to break down in the environment, and many manufacturers knew about the risks but still Read More...