Ever wondered why it feels so good to donate to an NGO, volunteer or even watch videos of acts of kindness on social media? Often when you do something nice or receive kindness in return, those memories and feelings stay with you. But what if we told you that being kind and receiving the same can have plenty of positive effects on your mind and body?
It’s never been cooler to be kind, and at a time and age when people are becoming more aware of the world around them, every single act, whether it’s living a waste-free life or feeding a person in need, stems from kindness – for people, animals, the environment and more.
However, kindness is more than just an act or a concept, it has been researched over the years and the findings are extremely interesting. Research says that you don’t need to be a giver or receiver of kindness to be impacted, even watching videos of kindness can have an impact on your immune system.
The Mother Theresa Effect
Named after a Harvard University Study, The Mother Theresa Effect, had volunteers watching a video of Mother Theresa caring for the poor in Kolkata. The researchers took secretory immunoglobulin-A (s-IgA) samples from 132 volunteers before and after watching the video. The secretory immunoglobulin-A (s-IgA) is found in the saliva and is considered to be a good indicator of a person’s immune function. After watching the film, the volunteers had a higher level of s-IgA as they continued to recall parts of the video. The s-IgA levels also remained high an hour after the watching video in those volunteers who had been asked to focus on thinking about the times when they experienced love. So, the higher the s-IgA levels, the better the immune function.
The researchers were able to conclude that just watching or thinking about a person treating someone else with kindness had a significant positive impact on the immune system and well-being of an individual.
The Attachment Hormone
Oxytocin, the neurotransmitter that is responsible for feeling connected, love and trust, is increased when one is kind. It is also called the cuddle or attachment hormone. When you experience kindness, your oxytocin levels increase and improve your heart’s health, your energy, helps reduce pain, strengthens the immune system and much more. So to put it simply – it improves your overall physical health. And all it takes is an act of kindness – either given, received or watched.
The science behind kindness is pretty clear. Kindness does make the world go round and has several benefits to it. So now we all have more reasons to choose kindness above all.
At Donatekart we believe that every act of kindness makes a difference, and we’re so happy to have a community of people who believe the same. If you’re looking to help someone in need, or just read stories of change, visit donatekart.com today.
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Written by Charita Cariappa
