A Kinder Way to Reduce Inflammation and Lower Cholesterol

Researchers at the University of British Columbia did an experiment on high school students. Half the students helped elementary students for an hour per week — they helped in one of three ways: with their homework, with a sport, or with a club activity. The other half of the high school students didn't do anything differently.

After ten weeks, the high school students who helped elementary students had lower levels of inflammation and cholesterol. And it didn't matter in what way they helped. But those who had the greatest increase in "empathetic and altruistic behavior" had the biggest improvements in their health measures.

Source: Scientific American Mind, September/October 2013, page 8.

Adam Khan is the author of Self-Reliance, Translated and Principles For Personal Growth. Follow his podcast, The Adam Bomb.