Do Good: 3 Health Benefits To Giving Back

You don’t give back because you want something in return. But it doesn’t hurt if you get it anyway, right? Good deeds and kindness were long believed to boost physical health, but now, science backs that up. We checked in with Dr. Adam D. Borland, a clinical psychologist at the Cleveland Clinic, who prescribed a few milligrams of generosity and charity to boost mental well-being, heart health and a longer life span.

Heads Up
That warm, fuzzy feeling you get from being altruistic isn’t just in your head — but it might improve your mental health. “Research has found that our brains are naturally wired for kindness,” says Borland. “Making kindness a daily habit can positively alter brain wiring.” Separate studies from the National Institutes of Health and the University of Oregon found positive brain activity in MRI scans when subjects thought about donating to charity. Experts believe voluntary acts of charity may cause upticks in serotonin, dopamine and oxytocin levels, resulting in a “helper’s high.” These “feel good” chemicals can increase self-esteem, relieve anxiety, lower stress and fight depression. 

Heart of Gold
Giving a little piece of your heart to others also serves as a boon to your own vital, blood-pumping organ. A 2014 study found that people who volunteer 200 hours or more each year were less likely to develop hypertension, a condition of abnormally high blood pressure. “Displaying or even witnessing others displaying acts of kindness creates the hormone oxytocin,” says Borland. This “love hormone” lowers blood pressure, fights inflammation and provides relief for those plagued with coronary-related events such as heart attacks. “For this reason, oxytocin is often referred to as a ‘cardio-protective’ hormone,” he says.

Buying Time
Doing good deeds may also help you live longer. A University of California, Berkeley, study found people who were 55 or older who volunteered for two or more organizations were 44 percent less likely to die over a five-year period than those who didn’t volunteer. “Oxytocin can help reduce inflammation and free radicals [or toxic molecular byproducts], which can help slow down the aging process,” says Borland. “Kindness can help reduce pain throughout the body via the stimulation of endorphins.” In addition, studies have found activities such as volunteering can provide a stronger sense of purpose and promote physical activity in older adults.