Generous giving, whether it is donating a car, volunteering at a local shelter, or serving a family member, can make the giver feel a sense of well-being and plentitude that can come from nothing else. According to psychologists, the human psyche is hard-wired to benefit from helping other people. But generosity can do more for you than just improve your emotional health. It can also improve your physical health. Here are a few of the benefits of being generous.
#1 Lower Blood Pressure
According to a 2013 study, volunteering service or funds to help someone else can lower your risk of high blood pressure, or hypertension, by as much as 40% in adults. Psychologists have suggested that this reduction in high blood pressure risk could be associated with positive social interactions. Healthy social behaviors can lead to better physical health overall.
#2 Better Heart Health
It isn’t just adults that benefit from charitable giving. In another 2013 study, teenagers were given the opportunity to volunteer service in their community. According to the study results, the volunteer group had lower levels of cholesterol, inflammation, and a lower BMI than a control group. So, starting a habit of giving is a good thing to start young.
#3 Improved Outlook
Depression is more than just feeling a little blue, and for those who struggle with it, it can have a negative impact on more than just the emotions. The physical body responds to the emotions and outlook of the individual. Volunteer service and charitable giving can promote feelings of empathy, personal well-being, and positivity that increase overall health.
The old saying "It is better to give than to receive" has been around for millennia, and with recent studies, medical science is showing that for the good of your heart, it’s true. So, go ahead and give, it’s good for your heart.