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.
Device detects mislabeled fish
A US Food and Drug administration study once found that up to a third of all fish sold in the US is mislabeled and is actually a cheaper catch. Spotting mislabeled fish is essentially impossible—DNA tests are needed—but that could soon be changing with the help of a little device. A couple of Read More...
Bad smells help smokers quit
Menthol cigarettes—cigarettes with added menthol for mint flavor—are actually more addictive than regular cigarettes. Why? Because the minty smell of menthol is itself addicting, and when added to cigarettes makes them even more so. Scientists have taken that idea, and reversed it, adding a Read More...
Acupuncture for nasal allergies
With spring just around the corner, many of us are upping our Kleenex supply, and buying the super sized bottles of Benadryl. While for some allergies always drive you to drugs, some doctors suggest acupuncture for some nasal passage relief. Many studies have found that acupuncture can help with Read More...
Traditional markets will lead to African food security
In Africa, traditional open-air markets are where 85 percent of groceries are bought and sold. Contrary to what you might think, meat and milk sold at open-air markets is safer than meat and milk sold in westernized African supermarkets, according to recent findings by the International Livestock Read More...
The health benefits of sunlight
Many people avoid the sun, scared of its potential danger. Why? Yes, too much sun will give you cancer, but those who get more sun exposure are also less likely to develop other cancers like colon, breast, and prostate. Vitamin d improves your immune system, your attitude, and your health, mental Read More...
TV dramas make you smarter
Here at The Intelligent Optimist we love books and most of us usually try to abstain from long bouts of TV watching. While we all indulge ourselves every once in a while, it turns out that watching a little TV isn’t that bad for you—as long as you’re watching TV dramas. Complex TV dramas are Read More...
Treadmill desks boost memory recall
Study after study tells us that sitting all day is slowly killing us. One solution is the treadmill desk, which is what it’s name implies—a treadmill under your desk. Some might think that walking while your work would be distracting but a new study has found walking while you work actually Read More...
3D heart helps save child’s life
Two-year-old Mina was born with a hole in her heart. Surprisingly she made it to two without fixing the hole, but recently it was necessary to make an incision and solve her heart problem. The surgery was complicated and doctors were having trouble visualizing the problem and making a plan. But Read More...
Fatty acids in fish counterbalance mercury
The fatty acids from fish are great for your health but it’s a widely held belief that overconsumption of fish is bad because of the high mercury levels, and should be avoided especially by expecting mothers. Now new research has found otherwise, and discovered that the benefits of the fatty Read More...
Ebola vaccines arrive in Liberia
The Ebola outbreak that started a year ago is the worst in human history. Thankfully late last week Liberia received the first shipments of British drug maker GlaxoSmithKline’s experimental Ebola vaccine. The first large scale Ebola vaccination is currently underway with 300 vaccines being Read More...