The Connection Between Gratitude and Physical Health
We are holistic creatures. Every aspect of our being is connected and influences our overall wellness. Gratitude’s well-known stress-relieving properties are based on physiological processes that lead to positive emotions. The connection between the mind, body, and emotions means that your improved mood positively influences your physical and mental health.
Gratitude Makes Your Heart Stronger
You can argue that your heart is your most important organ. It pumps oxygenated blood throughout your body to keep other organs functioning properly. The importance of a healthy heart for overall physical well-being can’t be overstated. We all know what happens when your heart stops beating for good.
Recent research says a regular gratitude practice delivers heart health benefits. That is wonderful news because heart disease is the leading killer on our planet. By being grateful for what you have in your life, you lower your risk of developing heart disease.
Partly, that happens because embracing gratitude is linked to decreased inflammatory biomarkers. The more you find to be grateful for, the less likely you are to develop high blood pressure. Some studies suggest that expressing gratitude daily changes your physical makeup in many positive ways.
Be Thankful for a Healthier Immune System
The influence gratitude has on hormone production leads to a more positive outlook and fewer feel-bad chemicals racing around in your body. People who think positively most of the time usually have more robust immune systems than those who primarily adopt a negative outlook.
Your immune system is a complex network of body parts and processes that constantly works to keep you from getting sick. Your gratitude strengthens it. Being grateful for something as simple as a sunny day or another day above ground means less chance of falling prey to illness and disease.
Gratitude Dulls Your Pain Response
Be grateful more often, and you may experience less physical pain. This is yet another benefit to your physical health. The shift in focus from stress and negative emotions to gratitude and positive emotions means you feel less pain.
A study at the University of Manchester showed that writing down things you are grateful for before bed can improve your physical health. This practice is linked to better sleep habits, and regular restful sleep promotes physical health and well-being.
Take some time to say thank you. Be grateful for the most minor things. Please don’t take them for granted because nothing is guaranteed. Practice gratitude daily for less stress, a stronger heart, a more positive outlook, and better sleep.