Studies Show Volunteering and Giving Improves Your Physical Health

Research is showing that volunteering and giving back, in addition to helping others, is actually beneficial for your own physical wellbeing.

Richard Davidson, a neuroscientist and researcher on the brain, is one of those who has studied the effects of volunteering and giving on individuals. “When we engage in acts of generosity, those experiences of positive emotion may be more enduring and outlast the specific episode in which we are engaged,” Davidson told The New York Times, as reported by RelevantMagazine.com.

Volunteering and helping others has even been shown to slow the process of aging. Research showed that those who volunteer and help others experience less memory loss and maintain their physical mobility more as they age.

Another researcher, Ichiro Kawachi, who is a professor of social epidemiology at Harvard’s School of Public Health, stated, “Research suggests that these community social connections are as important for resilience to disaster is as physical material like disaster kits or medical supplies. [Volunteerism] is good for the health of people who receive social support, but also good for the health of people who offer their help.”

What with the numerous natural disasters such as hurricanes and wildfires that have affected the world this year, there are ample opportunities to give of your time, money, and energy.

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