MEDICARE PLANS FOR KENTUCKY Inside This Issue 1 Sierra and Kevin Welcome a New Daughter 2 Improve Your Future With Affirmations Today 3 5 Solutions for Quality Sleep 3 Healthier, Lighter Deviled Eggs 4 The Health Benefits of Generosity
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HOW HELPING OTHERS HELPS US Being Selfless Never Felt So Good
indicated that volunteering later in life can reduce the risk of dementia. Giving back also provides an opportunity to stay physically active, improving seniors’ strength and mobility. And a 2011 study found an association between an older person’s quality of life and their level of volunteerism. But while giving back is good for you, it’s essential to keep the right reasons in mind. One study found that adults 55 or older who volunteer have a 44% lower mortality over five years. That’s excellent news. But a 2012 study
They say you get what you give, but you may be surprised to hear that science backs it up. Doing good is good for you, and multiple studies have done their part to prove it. Research has consistently linked volunteerism to lowered rates of depression, better blood pressure readings, improved heart health, and less stress. The secret may be tied to the sense of purpose giving back creates for many people. In a 2017 Northwestern study, those who felt their lives had meaning were 63% less likely to have sleep apnea and 52% less likely to have restless
leg syndrome. And in a 2014 study, participants with the greatest sense of purpose were 30% less likely to die than those who felt the lowest life meaning. On top of that, volunteering makes you feel good. When you do something nice for someone, you probably notice the warm sense of happiness it gives you. It turns out that generosity can activate pleasure in our brains, releasing feel-good chemicals like serotonin, dopamine, and oxytocin.
found that motivation matters — those who expressed selfless
As we age, helping others becomes even more important. A 2014 study
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