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.
How meditation affects the gray matter of the brain
I like to meditate. It makes me feel at ease and I am convinced that the sense of calm it produces helps me to handle the daily challenges of my life. There are, of course, times when I don't keep up my daily practice of sitting quietly for 10 or 15 minutes, but these are the times in my life when Read More...
Vitamin D supplements may help lower symptoms in MS patients
Health officials still aren't certain what causes multiple sclerosis (MS)--a disease in which the immune system eats away at the body's protective covering of nerves. However, they do know that a combination of genetic and environmental factors seem to influence the health issue; one genetic factor Read More...
Research shows how fish oil can improve fat metabolism in mice
Researchers have found that fish oil transforms fat-storage cells into fat-burning cells, which may reduce weight gain in middle age. The team explains in Scientific Reports that fish oil activates receptors in the digestive tract, fires the sympathetic nervous system, and induces storage cells to Read More...
Nanotechnology sunscreen filters out dangers
Current commercial sunscreens use compounds to filter out damaging ultraviolet (UV) light, but these agents can have adverse effects as they penetrate past the surface skin into the bloodstream. The agents have been found in human breast tissue and urine and are known to disrupt the normal function Read More...
6 strategies for better sleep
There are many myths about sleep, which end up disrupting our slumber. For starters, people think that having sleep problems is normal. Or they think that sleep medication is their only hope. However, there are well-researched strategies, which don’t involve taking pills and can have lasting Read More...
Coffee vs. tea: Pros, cons and how to drink them best
A colleague recently came to me asking what’s better: coffee or tea? She told me that she (a coffee drinker) and her boyfriend (more of a tea guy) were debating which beverage is healthier, each believing their own personal preference was the more virtuous option. It seems like every day Read More...
Pocket-sized sensors help safeguard against food contamination
Food in the U.S. is often mislabeled, coming with an assortment of hazards such as carcinogens and pesticides, not to mention the threat of food poisoning. When you take this all into account, the cost of cheap and bountiful food in the U.S. is far more expensive than what we pay at the counter, Read More...
“Resurrection plants” offer hope as climate change threatens crops
As climate change continues to turn what were once fertile lands into dusty, arid fields, scientists and farmers alike are searching for ways to adapt. One answer may lie in a unique group of flora called “resurrection plants,” which can go dormant and appear dead for years, only to return when Read More...
Latinos live longer, despite poverty. Here's their secret.
Celia Aguilar visits with her mother and grandmother in El Paso, Texas. Aguilar’s mother practiced the tradition of cuarentena for her five children. This form of mother care provides 40 days of rest and bonding while relatives or friends cook and run the household. Aguilar plans to do the Read More...
A healthier and more sustainable shrimp—made of algae, not shrimp
Faux burgers, chicken, eggs and all kinds of animal products are being made to satisfy the market of people who don’t want to eat food that comes from animals, and now there is vegetarian shrimp available made without the use of actual sea creatures. Located in California's Bay Area, New Wave Read More...