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.
Chocolate to soothe coughs better than conventional cough syrups
Good news for chocolate lovers--researchers have found that the delicious treat works better at soothing coughs than conventional cough syrups with codeine. The way it works is that the viscosity of the melted chocolate coating allows cough-suppressing ingredients naturally present in cocoa to come Read More...
The one food the oldest person in the U.S. ate every day to live to 114
What is the key to longevity? According to the family of Lessie Brown, who was believed to the be the oldest living person in the United States before she passed away on Tuesday at the age of 114, it has to do with a starchy and sweet-tasting root Read More...
Physical activity may reduce risk of Alzheimer’s disease
We all know that exercising improves our cardiovascular and physical health, but researchers have now discovered that it can also help prevent neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s. The study suggests that, when exercising, our body induces a hormone called irisin, which may improve brain Read More...
Diabetes: Can we teach the body to heal itself?
In diabetes, the pancreas is unable to produce enough insulin, the hormone that is key to regulating levels of blood sugar. New research now asks if we can teach pancreatic cells to address this problem on their Read More...
Cancer deaths have fallen drastically over the last 25 years
Cancer is the second-leading cause of death among Americans, behind only heart disease. But there’s good news: the cancer death rate has drastically declined over the past 25 years, according to a new report from the American Cancer Society Read More...
Study: THC to prevent development of Alzheimer’s disease
Scientists tested the effects of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), one of the active compounds in marijuana, and discovered that it can promote the removal of a protein responsible for the progression of Alzheimer’s. The finding supports the results of previous studies that found evidence of the Read More...
The best time to take your medicine is when your genes are most active
A new study shows that you should take notice of your body’s circadian rhythm when taking your medicine as many genes that direct the production of proteins targeted by drugs have a daily cycle of activity. For example, medication to manage a hyperactive thyroid could be most effective if Read More...
Researchers develop ivy plant that can remove harmful air pollutants from homes
Scientists managed to modify pothos ivy plants so that they can remove harmful air pollutants like chloroform and benzene from homes. The researchers added the noxious gases (benzene and chloroform) to modified and non-modified plants in glass tubes. After 11 days they noticed that, compared to the Read More...
Inhalable RNA could breathe new life into lung cancer treatments
In the body, messenger RNA (mRNA) molecules are in charge of instructing cells to produce specific proteins, and hijacking this natural system is emerging as a promising new way to treat a wide variety of illnesses. Now, researchers at MIT have developed an inhalable mRNA aerosol that can take the Read More...
Ancient Irish healing cure turns out to be a modern lifesaver
One of today’s most deadly challenges to public health is the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. In the United States alone, 2 million people are infected with an antibiotic-resistant infection annually; the World Health Organization has warned of the “post-antibiotic era.” An urgent Read More...