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.
This easy diet shift will help improve gut health
We can probably all relate to the feeling of our unhappy gut letting us know very clearly that it does not approve of what we’ve been eating that day. Caring for your digestive tract isn’t just something you can check off your to-do list. It’s an ongoing process that we can continue to Read More...
Gut health for guys—should men take probiotics?
Have you heard of probiotics? Chances are you have a basic understanding that they are good for your gut health—but do they have any specific benefits for men? Here’s what health experts want you to know about probiotics and gut health for guys. Should men take probiotics? Most experts are in Read More...
Hyenas offer surprising public health benefits in African cities
Hyenas are often portrayed as the villains of the savanna, but a new study from the University of Michigan demonstrates that these scavengers are more useful than we might think. The study, based in the Ethiopian city of Mekelle, counted the number of hyenas seen around town as well as the number Read More...
Scientists continue to unravel the medical mystery of identical twins
Dutch scientists have made strides towards uncovering more of the medical mystery that causes some twins to be born identical. Their discovery can help treat congenital disorders that identical twins are disproportionately afflicted with, such as spina bifida. Identical twins form after a zygote Read More...
10 Ways to speak to yourself with compassion
Self-compassion is a critical component of mental health, but in a world where we are often our own harshest critics, this can be difficult. Keeping some compassion-centered phrases on hand will make it easier to shift your perspective when you catch yourself being too harsh. Here are 10 from Read More...
Dutch supermarket introduces “chat checkouts” to combat loneliness
Jumbo, a Dutch supermarket chain, has come up with a simple and creative solution to combat the widespread issue of loneliness by opening tills where clients can stop and chat instead of being rushed to pay and gather their shopping. The very first “Kletskassa,” which translates to “chat Read More...
Study: Boosting happiness slows down cognitive decline
A new longitudinal study investigating whether a person’s level of happiness affects their cognitive health as they age strongly suggests that the happier you are, the less likely you are of developing neurodegenerative diseases like dementia. While there have been previous studies that link Read More...
CRISPR gene-editing restores vision in patients with rare eye disease
Researchers from the Casey Eye Institute at the Oregon Health & Science University are reporting the successful use of CRISPR gene-editing to restore vision for patients with a rare eye disease. Leber congenital amaurosis, or LCA, is an uncommon genetic form of vision impairment, but seven Read More...
How hamsters and llamas could provide an effective Covid-19 therapy
Researchers from the Rosalind Franklin Institute at Oxford University have identified an unusual source for a potential Covid-19 treatment: the llama and the Syrian hamster. Like humans, llamas produce antibodies to recognize and defeat infections, but their antibodies are unusually small, Read More...
4 Ways to improve your health literacy
Navigating health choices was already complex even before a global pandemic. Now, decisions like whether to send your child back to school or wear a mask in the park are compounded by vast amounts of scientific data and public recommendations. Even if you’re not a doctor or a scientist, a few Read More...