Spreading kindness not only helps others feel better about themselves-it can also boost（促进）the giver's health and happiness, according to research. Here's why. A 'helper's high'
Putting the well-being of others before our own without expecting anything in return stimulates（刺激）the reward centers of the brain, studies show. Those feel-good chemicals flood our system, producing a sort of "helper's high."
One reason for this, experts say, is because kindness contributes to（促成）our sense of community and belonging. .
Pain reduction
Giving seems to lessen our pain. A recent study found that people who said they would donate money to help orphans were less sensitive to an electric shock than those who declined to give. In addition, the more helpful people thought their donation would be, the less pain they felt.
The study found that regions of the brain that react to painful stimulation appear to be instantly deactivated by the experience of giving.
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Giving donations to others, or "prosocial spending," has been shown to reduce blood pressure and improve heart health. One study asked a group of hypertensive people to spend$40 on themselves, while another group of people with high blood pressure were told to spend the money on others.
They found that those who spent money on others had lower blood pressure at the end of the six-week study. In fact, the benefits were as large as those from healthy diet and exercise.
Happiness
Researchers found that being kind could boost happiness. the first group had to do an act of kindness each day; the second group tried a new activity; and the third group did nothing. The groups who were kind and did novel things saw a significant boost in happiness.
It seems acts of kindness can be as simple as giving a compliment or opening a door for someone.
A. Healthy heart
B. It's a win-win for all.
C. Lower blood pressure
D. How could this happen?
E. You'll experience even greater joy.
F. The study assigned people to three groups
G. And that is a key contributor to a healthy, longer life.
