The Beauty In Art, Nature And Religion Help Lower Cytokine Levels

Embracing the beauty around us may help lower potentially toxic inflammatory levels, according to a new study. 

"Our findings demonstrate that positive emotions are associated with the markers of good health," said Jennifer Stellar, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Toronto and lead author of the study, which she conducted while at UC Berkeley, in a news release.

Researchers found that embracing the awe and wonder around us in nature could actually help to lower inflammatory proteins in our bodies, known as cytokines. While cytokines also help to herd cells by fighting off infection, disease and/or certain health traumas-over time, they can contribute to poor health, and various medical conditions, such as an increased risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, arthritis and even clinical depression or Alzheimer's.

Previous studies have shown how a healthy diet, exercise and adequate sleep can keep our cytokines in line. Yet Stellar's research is the first to touch on how we look at life, the influence of added philosophical concepts and how they can potentially shape this aspect of our health.

Two separate experiments involved over 200 young adults who reported the extent to which they had experienced positive emotions like amusement, awe, compassion, contentment, love, pride or even joy. Researchers collected samples of gum and cheek tissue to examine how positive emotions contributed to wonder and awe via oral mucosal transudate. Those who exhibited the happiest emotions had the lowest levels of the cytokine, Interleukin 6, a marker of inflammation.

However, researchers are still uncertain whether low cytokines or positive feelings came first. More research will be needed in order to determine which is essential responsible for the other.

"It is possible that having lower cytokines makes people feel more positive emotions, or that the relationship is bidirectional," Stellar concluded.

More information regarding the findings can be seen via the journal Emotion.

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