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.
A Harvard professor explains how to train your brain to innovate for more success
On the surface, innovation is a thrilling concept. We celebrate the people and companies creating products no one else thinks of, hungrily imitating them and taking notes. We aspire to be trailblazers ourselves. Unconsciously, however, our brains have a vastly different opinion on the matter. Read More...
Study: Drinking a cup of tea a day can help you fend off dementia
People who drink at least one cup of tea—black, green, or oolong—daily have a 61 percent lower risk of developing dementia compared with those who do not, according to a new study. Among those who were genetically predisposed to Alzheimer’s disease, tea-drinking lowered their risk of getting Read More...
America's infant mortality rate has plummeted over the past decade
The infant mortality rate in the US dropped 15 percent from 2005 to 2014, according to a new report. In that same time frame, sudden infant death syndrome, or SIDS, also saw a major drop, declining by 29 percent. The results of the report come as a pleasant surprise, especially given the onslaught Read More...
Viva Italia: The healthiest people in the world hail from Italy
Italy may have a stagnant economy, but its people are by far the healthiest in the world. Italians are in way better shape than Americans, Canadians, and Brits, who all suffer from higher blood pressure and cholesterol and poorer mental health. In fact, a newborn in Italy can expect to live well Read More...
Deep brain stimulation provides lasting relief from severe depression
Treatment with deep brain stimulation can provide lasting relief to patients suffering from previously non-treatable, severe forms of depression several years into the therapy or even eliminate symptoms entirely. This is the finding of the first long-term study on this form of therapy, conducted by Read More...
The placebo effect works—that's why doctors need to be trained to support it
A growing body of research shows that people’s mindsets have measurable physical effects. People’s expectations of healing and the relationships with their doctors drive these placebo responses—where a patient’s health changes without being treated. Despite this research, the benefits of Read More...
Remote tribe in the Amazon have the healthiest arteries ever studied
Scientists have spent centuries developing wonder-drugs and medical technologies undreamed of by their ancestors. But despite the marvels of modern medicine, no doctor has yet cracked the secret of youth, the ability to extend good health and vitality into old age. The key to that secret may be Read More...
Yoga is philosophy in physical form, says a philosophy of mind professor
Yoga class undoubtedly improves a person’s flexibility and serenity. But Lisa Miracchi, a philosophy professor at University of Pennsylvania who is teaching a seminar called “Yoga and Philosophy,” says that the poses can also enhance your reasoning, behavior, and relationships. Miracchi, who Read More...
Sustainable living: Barcelona is better for your mental health than New York
New research shows that being surrounded by tall buildings produces a “substantial” negative impact on mood. City dwellers have a 40 percent increased risk of depression and double the rate of schizophrenia. That’s the problem when cities are designing ever denser centers to accommodate for Read More...
Yoga and controlled breathing may ease depression
New research suggests a 12-week integrative health intervention may significantly reduce depressive symptoms. Columbia and Harvard researchers discovered training in Iyengar yoga classes and coherent breathing provided considerable benefits for individuals with major depressive disorder. However, Read More...