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.
Is sparkling water good for you? What to know about the bubbly drink trend
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Sparkling water is having a moment, and for good reason. This fizzy drink has become a go-to for people who want something more exciting than plain water. But if you're drinking it daily (or hourly), you might wonder: is sparkling water actually good for Read More...
Free school meals expanded to 500,000 more children under new UK government policy
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In a move set to benefit half a million more young students, the UK government announced that beginning in September 2026, all children in England whose families receive Universal Credit will be eligible for free school meals regardless of income level. This Read More...
The fungi on your face might be brewing the next great antibiotic
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In the ongoing search for new antibiotics, researchers may have found an unlikely ally: the fungi quietly snacking on our skin oils. According to a new study led by scientists at the University of Oregon, a common yeast called Malassezia, known more for Read More...
A new way to stack bricks could help clean Bangladesh’s air
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In the cool, dry winters of Bangladesh, the country’s 8,000-plus brick kilns roar to life. Coal-fed and open-air, they bake nearly 30 million bricks annually, filling the skies with thick black smoke in the process. But a new study has found that a few Read More...
The tortilla that doesn’t need a fridge will help Mexico’s most vulnerable
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In a brightly lit lab at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), food scientist Raquel Gomez peers through a microscope at microorganisms doing some heavy lifting: enriching tortillas with probiotics and preserving them for weeks without a Read More...
Sunshine guilt is real—but you don't have to feel bad about staying in
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM If you’ve ever looked out your window on a bright, beautiful day and felt a pang of guilt for staying indoors, you’re not alone. That uneasy feeling, now widely referred to as "sunshine guilt," has entered the modern lexicon, especially as social media Read More...
How to actually feel more positive (without faking it)
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM The Optimist Daily team knows better than anyone: between the pressure to “stay positive” and the pull of doomscrolling, finding a realistic middle ground can sometimes feel impossible. We all know that relentless cheeriness isn’t the answer. Neither is Read More...
Tiny seeds, big impact: why chia belongs in your daily diet
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM They may be small, but chia seeds are doing some serious heavy lifting in the world of nutrition. Forget buzzy trends that come and go—these seeds have the science to back up their superfood status, and they’re easier to work into your day than you might Read More...
Emergency contraception just got a lot more convenient
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM If you can grab a wireless phone charger and a pack of gum at 2 a.m., why not emergency contraception too? That’s the question Cadence, an Oakland-based health company, is answering with its no-nonsense product: the Morning After Pill. The company has Read More...
Are your pillows past their prime? Here’s what the experts say
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM We all have that one pillow—just the right squish, the perfect level of support, the familiar comfort that helps us drift off night after night. But even the most beloved pillow has a shelf life. If you’ve been holding onto yours for years, it might be Read More...