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.
Fighting Zika, dengue and malaria without dangerous pesticides
The only large-scale solutions to mosquito-carried diseases like Zika, dengue fever, and malaria involve spraying huge amounts of pesticides, which can be dangerous for people and the environment in general. A new solution for mosquitos may soon be on its way after researchers figured out how to Read More...
The vitamins that help to treat schizophrenia
Schizophrenia can cause delusions, hallucinations, confused thinking and dramatic changes in behaviour. High doses of B vitamins can help reduce the symptoms of schizophrenia, new research finds. B vitamins, including B6, B8 and B12 were added to the normal treatment of people with schizophrenia. Read More...
6 reasons to eat more food rich in prebiotics
Prebiotic fiber in things like raw garlic and artichokes provides food for the good gut bacteria, with benefits ranging from improved sleep to reduced risk of cancer. One of the more recent darlings of the health world has been probiotics, the beneficial bacteria found in items like yogurt and Read More...
Eat organic bread to fight global warming
Fertilizers used in wheat cultivation contribute almost half (43 percent) of the greenhouse gas emissions, according to a new study. Fertilizers consist of substances and chemicals such as methane, carbon dioxide, ammonia, and nitrogen. The emissions from these substances in synthetic fertilizers Read More...
Teach yourself everyday happiness with imagery training
Flashbacks of scenes from traumatic events often haunt those suffering from psychiatric conditions, such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). “The close relationship between the human imagery system and our emotions can cause deep emotional perturbations”, says Dr Svetla Velikova Read More...
The periodical five-day fast can do wonders for your health
Going on a five-day fast—where calorie intake is reduced to just 750 to 1,100 calories a day—can have tremendous benefits for your health. Research shows that a five-day fast every three months can help to reduce risk factors for heart disease while lowering levels of inflammation, which can be Read More...
Heal thyself: meet the doctors living with the conditions they treat
Bav Shergill: As a teenager I was terribly embarrassed about my skin – I had really bad acne from the age of 15. It took me until I went to medical school to find the courage and confidence to change my GP and get a hospital referral. Now, when I’m treating patients with acne I can reassure Read More...
Brain stimulation for patients with anorexia is safe and might improve symptoms
Small study in 16 people suggests technique is safe and might help improve mood, anxiety and wellbeing, while increasing weight. Deep brain stimulation might alter the brain circuits that drive anorexia nervosa symptoms and help improve patients' mental and physical health, according to a small Read More...
Dietary supplement shows promise in treatment of sleep apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea, which causes people to briefly stop breathing while asleep, affects an estimated 5 percent of the population, not including the many more who don’t even realize they suffer from the disorder. Patients are sometimes treated with a machine that blows air into the Read More...
Meditation benefits ALS patients
An eight-week mindfulness-based meditation program led to improved quality of life and psychological well-being in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), according to new research. In a randomized, open-label, and controlled clinical trial that included 100 patients, participants who Read More...