It’s no surprise that having the right diet, exercise regimen, and skin care routine can help you live longer in good health. But one often-overlooked aspect of longevity goes beyond antioxidants and getting your steps in. And that’s gratitude. It’s scientifically proven that maintaining a deep appreciation in life can have both mental and physical health benefits.[01] So, how can a shift in mindset transform your health? Keep reading to find out.
It’s no surprise that having the right diet, exercise regimen, and skin care routine can help you live longer in good health. But one often-overlooked aspect of longevity goes beyond antioxidants and getting your steps in. And that’s gratitude. It’s scientifically proven that maintaining a deep appreciation in life can have both mental and physical health benefits.[01] So, how can a shift in mindset transform your health? Keep reading to find out.
01
What is Gratitude Exactly?
While being thankful for a secure job, a furry friend, or a good hair day is valuable, the act of appreciation goes much deeper. It’s about being willing to be present and experience every moment as a gift—including the difficult moments.When you shift your focus away from the negative and practice maintaining the feeling of gratitude, even when things get tough, it increases your ability to adapt to challenging situations and bounce back from adversity. And this capacity to manage life’s ups and downs has profound physiological benefits.
01
What is Gratitude Exactly?
While being thankful for a secure job, a furry friend, or a good hair day is valuable, the act of appreciation goes much deeper. It’s about being willing to be present and experience every moment as a gift—including the difficult moments.When you shift your focus away from the negative and practice maintaining the feeling of gratitude, even when things get tough, it increases your ability to adapt to challenging situations and bounce back from adversity. And this capacity to manage life’s ups and downs has profound physiological benefits.
02
Unpacking the Science of Gratitude
According to research, the act of gratitude aids in everything from lowering inflammation to reducing your risk of developing cardiovascular disease.[02,03] That’s because your behavior impacts your biology.
02
Unpacking the Science of Gratitude
According to research, the act of gratitude aids in everything from lowering inflammation to reducing your risk of developing cardiovascular disease.[02,03] That’s because your behavior impacts your biology.
The Biological Mechanisms of Gratitude
From a physiological perspective, this state of being can improve neurotransmitter function and activate the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS), which can contribute to improvements in: [04]
- Heart rate
- Blood pressure
- Digestion
- Immune function
- Sleep quality
- Blood sugar regulation
- Anxiety and mood
- Mental clarity
- Respiratory function
The Link Between Gratitude and Cellular Aging
Just like our proprietary OS-01 peptide plays an important role in reversing cellular aging,[05,06] gratitude is shown to potentially delay the onset of cellular senescence.[07] By maintaining low cortisol levels, you’re helping to decrease the stress burden on cells, keeping them in a healthy state for longer.What’s more, because gratitude enhances immune system function, you’re also clearing inflammatory senescence cells more effectively, leading to improved skin health and overall longevity. [05,08]
The Link Between Gratitude and Cellular Aging
Just like our proprietary OS-01 peptide plays an important role in reversing cellular aging,[05,06] gratitude is shown to potentially delay the onset of cellular senescence.[07] By maintaining low cortisol levels, you’re helping to decrease the stress burden on cells, keeping them in a healthy state for longer.What’s more, because gratitude enhances immune system function, you’re also clearing inflammatory senescence cells more effectively, leading to improved skin health and overall longevity. [05,08]
03
4 Practical Ways to Cultivate Gratitude
Finding ways to express this kind of appreciation doesn’t have to be a cumbersome process. It can be as simple as telling a neighbor how lush their lawn looks or remembering to apply your broad-spectrum SPF before heading outside. Here are a few ways to get started:Sit quietly for 2 minutesWhile meditation is proven to deepen your sense of gratitude, turning off your phone, closing your eyes, and quieting your mind, even if it’s just for a few minutes, can kickstart that cascade of feel-good processes.Write down 3 things you’re grateful forJournaling is a great way to foster positive emotions. It could be as simple as the fact that your heart is beating, you have air in your lungs, or that you found non-comedogenic products for your sensitive skin.Show kindness to othersCompliment a stranger, give some kudos at work, or volunteer in your community. Strong relationships built on this not only lift others, but they enhance your own sense of thankfulness and well-being.Celebrate your victoriesMost people are programmed to focus on their failures. Next time, spend time acknowledging the good things you've achieved today: the fact that you remembered to floss, walked the dog an extra 10 minutes, or wore sunscreen.
03
4 Practical Ways to Cultivate Gratitude
Finding ways to express this kind of appreciation doesn’t have to be a cumbersome process. It can be as simple as telling a neighbor how lush their lawn looks or remembering to apply your broad-spectrum SPF before heading outside. Here are a few ways to get started:Sit quietly for 2 minutesWhile meditation is proven to deepen your sense of gratitude, turning off your phone, closing your eyes, and quieting your mind, even if it’s just for a few minutes, can kickstart that cascade of feel-good processes.Write down 3 things you’re grateful forJournaling is a great way to foster positive emotions. It could be as simple as the fact that your heart is beating, you have air in your lungs, or that you found non-comedogenic products for your sensitive skin.Show kindness to othersCompliment a stranger, give some kudos at work, or volunteer in your community. Strong relationships built on this not only lift others, but they enhance your own sense of thankfulness and well-being.Celebrate your victoriesMost people are programmed to focus on their failures. Next time, spend time acknowledging the good things you've achieved today: the fact that you remembered to floss, walked the dog an extra 10 minutes, or wore sunscreen.
Key Takeaways:
- Gratitude is the willingness to be present and recognize each moment as a gift
- The ability to adapt to life’s stressors has wide-ranging benefits from lowered inflammation to reduced risk of disease
- Serotonin and dopamine trigger the activation of the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS), which decreases cortisol levels and its harmful effects
- Enhancing immune function allows your body to more effectively clear senescent cells
- Cultivating gratefulness can be a simple process, from sitting quietly to celebrating your wins to making sure those around you get the praise they deserve.
Key Takeaways:
- Gratitude is the willingness to be present and recognize each moment as a gift
- The ability to adapt to life’s stressors has wide-ranging benefits from lowered inflammation to reduced risk of disease
- Serotonin and dopamine trigger the activation of the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS), which decreases cortisol levels and its harmful effects
- Enhancing immune function allows your body to more effectively clear senescent cells
- Cultivating gratefulness can be a simple process, from sitting quietly to celebrating your wins to making sure those around you get the praise they deserve.
References
- https://journal.einstein.br/article/the-effects-of-gratitude-interventions-a-systematic-review-and-meta-analysis/
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S088915912100177X?via%3Dihub
- https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1243598/full
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK553141/
- Zonari, A., et al. npj Aging, 2023
- Based on data from clinical studies and/or lab studies conducted on human skin samples, models, and cells in the OneSkin lab. Explore more at oneskin.co/claims.
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8474583/
References
- https://journal.einstein.br/article/the-effects-of-gratitude-interventions-a-systematic-review-and-meta-analysis/
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S088915912100177X?via%3Dihub
- https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1243598/full
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK553141/
- Zonari, A., et al. npj Aging, 2023
- Based on data from clinical studies and/or lab studies conducted on human skin samples, models, and cells in the OneSkin lab. Explore more at oneskin.co/claims.
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8474583/
