RUSH OF KINDNESS
Oxytocin safeguards the cardiovascular system, explains writer and scientist David Hamilton
JUST AS FEELINGS of stress produce stress hormones, feelings induced by kindness produce kindness hormones. The main one is oxytocin, also known as the hug drug, love drug and cuddle chemical. Research* shows that just as too many stress hormones are physiologically harmful, kindness hormones are beneficial.
Scientists at the University of Miami found that oxytocin helps keep blood vessels clear. When oxytocin was introduced to cardiovascular cells that were under mental and emotional or lifestyle stress, levels of oxidative stress, or free radicals, and inflammation dropped dramatically. Both oxidative stress and inflammation play a significant role in cardiovascular disease and underlie why stress is so harmful to the body. As such, the kindness hormone is known as a cardioprotective hormone because it protects the cardiovascular system.
Join ‘Psychologies’ kindness tsar David Hamilton live on Facebook @Psychologiesmagazine for his free 30-day kindness challenge and monthly broadcasts – next on 15 June at 1pm. Catch up via Psychologies TV at tinyurl.com/ psykind. For more, join the ‘Psychologies’ Life Leap Club, free when you subscribe to the magazine.‘the Little Book Of Kindness’ (Octopus, £6.99) and ‘The Five Side Effects Of Kindness’ (Hay House, £12.99) by David Hamilton are out now