Did you know? Having a daily gratitude practice can reduce the effects of aging to the brain
People who keep a gratitude journal have a reduced dietary fat intake – as much as 25 per cent lower. Stress hormones like cortisol are 23 per cent lower in grateful people. And having a daily gratitude practice could actually reduce the effects of aging to the brain.
Recent studies have shown that practicing gratitude can improve immune function, lower blood pressure and lead to more efficient sleep. People who are more grateful have been found to have better heart health, experience less inflammation, and have healthier heart rhythms.
Gratitude works by recruiting positive emotions that have direct physical benefits, possibly through the immune or endocrine system. Experts say that even those who may not be naturally grateful can learn to cultivate this habit, perhaps through journaling or focusing on even the smallest things to be thankful for.