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.
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...
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...
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...
Ask these 3 questions to help you choose a therapist
The pandemic has placed unparalleled stress on many people’s mental health. If self-care solutions aren’t doing the trick, it may be time to consider seeing a therapist to get professional advice on what you’re going through. It can take a few tries to find a therapist that works for you, but Read More...
Ice stupas: How an artificial glacier is addressing India’s water crisis
Ice stupas were invented in 2013 by Indian engineer Sonam Wangchuk. They are essentially artificial glaciers that take wastewater flowing in the summer months and pump it uphill to be stored as ice during the winter and released once again when spring arrives. For water-scarce regions, they provide Read More...
This middle school has its own mini grocery store to battle food insecurity
Gunna's Drip Closet And Goodr Grocery Store operates much like other grocery stores. It has food and household essentials with regular operating hours, but there are a few key differences between this shop and your local corner store. For one thing, everything is free. For another, it’s located Read More...