We have only scratched the surface on all the good stuff gratitude does to our lives... there are many research studies being undertaken to enlighten all the benefits and many have already been done. The article "Gratitude is a good medicine" published by the staff at the University of California, Davis one of the world's leading cross-disciplinary research and teaching institutions, outlines the research of gratitude in different patient population and results of the studies. Here is the summary:
- Keeping a gratitude diary for two weeks produced sustained reductions in perceived stress (28 percent) and depression (16 percent) in health-care practitioners.
- Gratitude is related to 23 percent lower levels of stress hormones (cortisol).
Practicing gratitude led to a 7-percent reduction in biomarkers of inflammation in patients with congestive heart failure. - Two gratitude activities (counting blessings and gratitude letter writing) reduced the risk of depression in at-risk patients by 41 percent over a six month period.
- Dietary fat intake is reduced by as much as 25 percent when people are keeping a gratitude journal.
- A daily gratitude practice can decelerate the effects of neurodegeneration (as measured by a 9 percent increase in verbal fluency) that occurs with increasing age.
- Grateful people have 16 percent lower diastolic blood pressure and 10 percent lower systolic blood pressure compared to those less grateful.
- Grateful patients with Stage B asymptomatic heart failure were 16 percent less depressed, 20 percent less fatigued and 18 percent more likely to believe they could control the symptoms of their illness compared to those less grateful.
- Older adults administered the neuropeptide oxytocin showed a 12 percent increase in gratitude compared to those given a placebo
- Writing a letter of gratitude reduced feelings of hopelessness in 88 percent of suicidal inpatients and increased levels of optimism in 94 percent of them.
- Grateful people (including people grateful to God) have between 9-13 percent lower levels of Hemoglobin A1c, a key marker of glucose control that plays a significant role in the diagnosis of diabetes.
- Gratitude is related to a 10 percent improvement in sleep quality in patients with chronic pain, 76 percent of whom had insomnia, and 19 percent lower depression levels.
The question is when it is so good for you ~ how come many people are not aware of it, practicing it, why is it not in our schools and part of the elementary education, why is it not implemented in our work culture? The answer is... it is a habit which starts with the awareness and it takes time to become part of your daily life. Many people simply are not aware this is probably one of the most important habits or mindset fitness strategies to cultivate. Now that we have addressed why gratitude matters, our future blogs we will be focusing on HOW to bring gratitude rituals in your life. Stay tuned.
To You,
Bravo! Standing Ovation!!
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