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 have identified brain cells that protect us from anxiety
You’ve likely never heard of Hoxb8-lineage microglia cells, but they play a very important role in your brain: regulating anxiety and OCD. In experiments with mice, alteration of these brain cells was found to have no impact on cognitive development but did affect OCD behaviors, such as excessive Read More...
Here’s what we might be eating in 2028
Although scientists have dissected almost every element of our diet, many of us still feel at sea when it comes to diet. Even when sticking to official advice, healthy foods that seem to energize one person can cause another to feel fatigued and bloated. In ten years' time, the food you eat may not Read More...
Nanoparticle technology could be the solution to treating food allergies
We have good news for bread lovers who suffer from Celiac disease or gluten intolerance. This week, Northwestern University completed a successful trial to alleviate inflammatory responses to gluten in individuals with allergies, using nanoparticle technology. This nanoparticle technology Read More...
This bus is a food lab designed to connect kids with healthy eating habits
Sometimes a little hands-on education goes a very long way when it comes to instilling sustainable and healthy eating habits in children. Take, for example, the Mobile Food Lab (MFL), a 300-square-foot bus that has been customized with a built-in greenhouse, classroom science lab, and art exhibit Read More...
Research tells us your gut health will improve with the Mediterranean diet
Trillions of bacteria and other microbes live in the human digestive system. Together, they form a community that's known as the gut microbiota. Many bacteria in the microbiota play important roles in human health, helping to metabolize food, strengthening intestinal integrity, and protecting Read More...
Dairy giant Danone teams up with the UN to foster sustainable diets and food systems
The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 2 - Zero Hunger - aims to eradicate hunger, achieve global food security, and promote worldwide sustainable farming practices by 2030. In an effort to bring that goal closer to fruition, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has recently Read More...
This is what the future of snacking looks like, according to food experts
More than ever, Americans are snacking. In fact, nearly 386 billion snacks were consumed by Americans last year. At the same time, people are becoming more conscious of the food they eat and the ingredients within them, which coincides with another trend: people becoming busier in their work and Read More...
Technology is paving the way for a regenerative agriculture revolution
Large scale agriculture conjures up images of vast fields of the same crop. But this single crop mentality is part of the reason commercial agriculture is struggling. Implementing regenerative agriculture practices, such as crop diversification, crop cover, livestock rotation, and composting, can Read More...
Grow fruits and veggies year round with this indoor Ferris wheel garden
We’re moving beyond the days where the only crops you can grow inside your home are various herbs and spices. In February, a new prototype of a rotating garden appeared on Kickstarter that allows you to grow fruits and vegetables all year round. It’s an idea that seems to appeal to a lot of Read More...
This is what happens to your body when you stop drinking sugary drinks
Very few things will have as immediate of an impact on your health as cutting back on all sugary drinks. In fact, a new study just found that simply swapping one sugary drink for an unsweetened choice such as water or tea could decrease your risk of type 2 diabetes by up to 10%. Conversely, Read More...