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 discover new way to break down bacterial infections using electricity
Biofilms are the tough gangs of the bacterial world. A slimy substance that forms when bacteria group together in a kind of gooey overlay, biofilm causes up to 80 percent of all bacterial infections. These formations usually adhere to surfaces around wounds or implanted medical devices and can be Read More...
Little Caesars becomes the latest chain to put plant-based meat on the menu
The first time news broke out about a fast food chain offering menu items made with faux meat rather than real meat, the news was shocking and exciting. Now it seems it’s simply becoming the norm as yet another restaurant chain has announced that it will be adding plant-based meat to their menus. Read More...
App helps quickly detect ear infections with just a phone and a paper cone
The symptoms of ear infections can be a little vague, and can be easily confused with other conditions. To help clear up such diagnoses, researchers from the University of Washington have come up with a “user-friendly” mobile app that can quickly detect the presence of fluid behind the eardrum Read More...
No more tossing away perfectly good milk: the ‘smart’ milk carton is on its way
Although many people throw milk away once it reaches its "best before" date, the fact is that the milk will still likely be good for several days after that date. In order to stop people from tossing perfectly good milk, scientists at Cornell University are designing a milk carton of the future. Read More...
Why you should start adding goji berries to your diet
For monks in the Himalayan Mountains, the goji berry was traditionally used to assist with stamina and focus during meditation. Nowadays, science tells us there are six key benefits that come with eating the dynamic-tasting goji berry. First of all, goji berries have high levels of antioxidants, Read More...
Meet the ocean farmer who grows food that cleans up pollution in the Atlantic
What if locals in your area called you the “Oyster Wench”? For Catherine Puckett, it’s the highest honor there is. Puckett, who lives on an island off the coast of Rhode Island, represents a new generation of ocean farmers, one whose singular connection to the water is coupled with a passion Read More...
Why letting go of anger can be key to a long, healthy life
Of all the emotions linked to negative health conditions, a small new study points out that anger is the worst, potentially contributing to inflammation and chronic disease. The new research was borne from a theory developed by two of the study’s co-authors, psychologists Carsten Wrosch and Ute Read More...
Need a boost? Study says simply thinking about coffee can energize you
The source of coffee’s powerful stimulating effects may not be limited to the caffeine in it, or even to its rich, distinct aroma. A new study suggests that merely being exposed to cues about coffee is enough to perk up the mind and make us more likely to concentrate on the task at hand, while Read More...
Could this candy alternative help people end their sugar addiction?
When we think about addiction, we tend to think about substances such as alcohol or cigarettes. But there’s another addictive substance that is severely hurting people’s health: sugar. Our grocery stores dedicate aisles just to sugar-filled candy, and although we’re all aware how much damage Read More...
The global child mortality rate has dropped to an all-time low
These days, it can sometimes feel like everything is getting worse. We’re faced every day with the problems we haven’t solved yet and new ones that we’re creating, and the barrage of bad news can be dispiriting. In these times of seeming despair, it’s extremely important to take a step back Read More...