Why Giving is Good for Your Health

It’s no secret that doing something nice for someone can give you that warm and fuzzy feeling, but did you know that that feeling is has scientific researched backing it up? There is research that shows that by doing something good for someone can give you a boost in your mental and physical health.

Serotonin, dopamine and oxytocin are the “feel good” chemicals released to the brain, aka the warm and fuzzy feelings you get, after doing something nice for someone like giving a gift, walking someone’s dog while they’re sick or even volunteering to babysit your neighbor’s child for the night.

“When we do things for other people, it makes us feel much more engaged and joyful,” says Susan Albers, a psychologist from the Cleveland Clinic.

Other benefits that are linked to doing something nice for someone include:

Lower blood pressure

Research shows that generosity is good for your heart. It can help lower your blood pressure

Longer Lifespan

There’s research that shows that people who volunteer tend to live longer.

Less Stress

Volunteering or gifting something to someone can reduce the levels of cortisol which is the stress hormone that can make you feel overwhelmed.

‘Helpers High’

Similar to how some feel after working out, a ‘helpers high’ releases endorphins into your brain that make you feel good.

Source: https://health.clevelandclinic.org/why-giving-is-good-for-your-health/