Whether it’s a smile from a stranger or an unexpected note from a loved one, random acts of kindness rarely go unappreciated. But if you needed any more motivation to do something nice today, we’ve rounded up a few health benefits of being kind.
1. Stronger immunity. A study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that people whose happiness was based on doing nice things rather than accumulating nice things, had less inflammation and more antibodies, which fight disease. Researchers analyzed the white blood cells of 80 healthy volunteers, while asking about what made them happy and brought them satisfaction in life. Those with the most generous lives had healthier biomarkers than those whose lives had more self-centered interests.
2. Reduced anxiety. According to The Huffington Post, research reveals that doing good deeds can make socially-anxious people feel better. University of British Columbia researchers assigned people with high levels of anxiety to do kind acts for other people almost every day, for a month. The study found that actions like holding the door open for someone or buying lunch for a friend led to a significant increase in positive moods, as well as a decrease in social avoidance for anxious individuals.
3. A healthier heart. Dr. David R. Hamilton writes that kindness creates emotional warmth, which is caused by a hormone known as oxytocin. Oxytocin causes the release of a chemical called nitric oxide, which dilates the blood vessels. This reduces blood pressure and, as a result, oxytocin is known as a hormone that is “cardioprotective”, or protecting the heart by lowering blood pressure.
“By being kind, you can benefit your immune system, reduce anxiety, lower blood pressure, and simply be a happier human being.”
4. Better relationships. Anyone who’s experienced an act of kindness knows that we like people who show us kindness. But in fact, this is genetic: Our evolutionary ancestors had to learn to cooperate, and the stronger the emotional bonds within groups, the greater were the chances of survival. As a result, ‘kindness genes’ were etched into the human genome. Today when we are kind to each other we feel a connection and new relationships are forged, or existing ones strengthened.
In fact, it appears that kindness is contagious. When we’re kind we inspire others to be kind and studies show that it actually creates a “pay it forward” ripple effect. Last year, The New York Times covered a trend of paying for strangers in the car behind you in the drive-through. A report in the New England Journal of Medicine also found that when an anonymous person walked into a clinic and donated a kidney, it created a ‘domino effect’ that spanned the length and breadth of the United States, where 10 people received a new kidney as a consequence of that anonymous donor.
Overall, just by being kind, you can benefit your immune system, reduce anxiety, lower blood pressure, and simply be a happier human being. Who wouldn’t want that?
So, what random act of kindness will you commit this week? Tell us on the Mango Health Facebook page for the chance to enter this week’s giveaway. We’ll be raffling away a $100 gift card to one generous person on Friday!
If you liked this post, you may also like:
- Take the “Three Good Things” Challenge
- 4 Tips to Spring into Action
- Data Dose: Keeping Your Heart Healthy and Happy
The posts on this blog are for information only. They are neither intended to substitute for a relationship with your doctor or other healthcare provider, nor do they constitute medical or healthcare advice of any kind. Any information in these posts should not be acted upon without consideration of primary source material and professional input from one’s own health care providers.