Four reasons why being kind to others is good for your health

We are always told by our parents to always be kind to others because as they say when you give kindness, you may receive kindness back.

Aside from getting kindness back, being a nice person has also a lot of health benefits and psychologists called being kind as "a prosocial behavior, which is being concerned for the rights, feelings, and welfare of other people. Behaviors that can be described as prosocial include feeling empathy and concern for others," according to verywellmind.com.

Furthermore, prosocial behavior comprised many ranges of good actions such as helping, sharing, comforting, and cooperating.

Here are the four benefits of having a prosocial behavior:

Admit it, being kind feels really good. Health experts recommend the public to be engaged in helpful acts that can help in improving our mood. A study posted in tandfonline.com displayed that "performing kindness activities for seven days increases happiness."

Furthermore, the said study also found out that "performing acts of kindness boosts happiness and well-being" including "a positive correlation between the number of kind acts and increases in happiness."

When we are kind, our brain releases oxytocin which is a feel-good hormone. This also expands in our blood vessels that helps us in reducing blood pressure.

According to Dr. David Hamilton, "oxytocin causes the release of a chemical called nitric oxide in blood vessels, which dilates (expands) the blood vessels. This reduces blood pressure and therefore oxytocin is known as a 'cardioprotective' hormone because it protects the heart (by lowering blood pressure). "

Based on a study posted in journals.sagepub.com/home/cpx, researchers found out that being kind and helpful to others can relieve stress.

The said study was participated by 77 adults whose ages are between 18 and 44 and they were given a questionnaire that they need to answer daily. They were asked to record any stressful events in their day and they also tracked their helpful behaviors that they did.

After collecting the data, researchers found that those who made daily acts of kindness were likely to feel stressed, while on days that they did not perform any acts of kindness they reportedly felt tensed and stressed.

When we are stressed and anxious, our body and mind are having a hard time taking a break. However, when we pay attention to the happiness that we are giving to someone else, it gives our brain a much needed break from solving our own problems.

Also, when we think and care for someone else's joy, we tend to forget about our issues for a while which gives us a boost to our mood.

Meanwhile, verywellmind.com said that the following are the steps that will help you to develop prosocial behavior; practice gratitude, practice forgiveness, look for ways to be helpful, be polite, think about others, and act with kindness.

Always remember that kindness is free and this could also help in brightening up the mood of others. As the saying goes, "Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle." – Philo