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.
Probiotics could be the key to reversing colon cancer
In a new study that could herald in a new drugs-free approach to treating colon cancer, researchers have discovered that colon cancer patients lack certain enzymes in their gut, which causes inflammation and cancer. The good news is that through the use of probiotics to reintroduce the enzymes into Read More...
Satellites help predict malaria outbreaks months in advance
Malaria is one of the greatest health threats in tropical regions like the Amazon, but predicting its spread is difficult. While it's no secret that mosquitoes prefer warm air and standing pools of water, how do you translate that awareness to a large Read More...
The science behind acupuncture—and why it really works
Rooted in key principles of traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture is based on the idea of creating and sustaining balance within the body. The practice of acupuncture has become increasingly prevalent in the West over the past few years. Still, despite this steady climb in popularity, the Read More...
For a healthy gut, get more Omega-3 in your diet
Researchers have found that people who eat foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids have more bacterial diversity in the gut, which promotes better overall health. A gut with rich and diverse bacteria is key to keeping the immune system healthy and ready to fight. Since we cannot produce omega-3 fatty Read More...
Not all carbs are bad. Here’s how to eat carbs and still lose weight
Carbohydrates are often labeled as the reason why people gain weight, but this isn’t exactly fair. The science behind carbohydrates is very complex, and it's important to understand that there are good carbohydrates and bad ones. If you want to eat carbs while losing weight, take a look at this Read More...
This pen can diagnose cancer in 10 seconds
Researchers have developed a handheld device that uses tiny droplets of water to analyze human tissue samples for cancer with 96 percent accuracy. The new technology, which is the size of a pen, is able to distinguish between tumors and healthy tissue in just ten seconds. Considering that most Read More...
Scientists could use Zika virus to fight brain cancer in the future
As it turns out, the feature of Zika virus that can cause devastating brain damage in babies may also serve a very useful purpose—fighting brain cancer. In a new study, researchers found that the virus is able to kill cancerous stem cells and cause tumors to shrink. And because Zika isn’t a Read More...
For a healthy immune system, try to avoid using antibiotics
While antibiotics can temporarily help your body protect itself, they also weaken the immune system in the long run. A team of researchers found that the drugs interfere with ‘first-line’ immune cells—known as neutrophils—and also weaken the intestinal barrier which stops invading bugs. To Read More...
Interactive chatbots are helping the UN fight world hunger
The UN’s World Food Program (WFP) has been experimenting with text and Facebook messenger chatbots to monitor food insecurity in hard-to-reach areas, turning smartphones and social media into lifelines for those in need. The WFP’s “Food Bot,” rolled out earlier this year, works on apps like Read More...
A simple ethanol injection offers safe and cheap treatment of some cancers
Researchers have developed a new type of ethanol solution that can be injected directly into a variety of tumors to offer a new, safe, and cheap form of cancer treatment. Ethanol ablation is a form of cancer therapy currently used for some types of liver and thyroid cancers, but it often requires Read More...