HEALTH BENEFITS ASSOCIATED WITH PAINTING

Studies are exclaiming that the stresses of everyday and work are killing us. These stresses are raising our glucose levels, increasing circulating cortisol and other stress hormones, leading to weight gain, and making us more prone to upper respiratory infections and cardiovascular diseases. Gee, sounds like fun.

Did you know there are numerous health benefits associated with creating various types of art?

It's true. And most people are already aware of the hollistic healing powers of the visual arts. But in case you weren't, please read on.

Bringing out your artistic side could be just as effective as antidepressants, as one study in The American Journal of Pain and Symptom Management found. They found that cancer patients who started painting reported feeling less pain and tiredness, a happier mood, and even less nausea. According to Women’s World, research found that painting for one hour can boost mood for up to three days, and yet another study found painting to be as effective as antidepressants in treating depression. Drawing and painting can help take the focus away from pain, and also release endorphins – the happy feel-good hormone!

Simply looking at an artistic rendering of a landscape has been shown to reduce hospital length of stay and narcotic use by surgery patients, for example.

I'm going to have Alzeheimer's disease someday. It's inevitable. My grandma, great grandma, and beyond have been stricken with the disease. And between you and me, I've seen early clues that it may be developing in a few other family members (as well as myself lately!). But you know what? Aside from healthy eating and exercise, painting may be able to help me out a little here. Creative hobbies can supposedly help keep your brain sharp as you age.

Other benefits include:

Improved creativity
Improved memory
Improved communication skills
Improved problem solving capacity
Stress relief
Increased positive emotions
Release of hidden emotions
Increased emotional intelligence
Better mobility
Increased awareness of detail

Personally, I always notice how much better I feel about myself, how much happier I am, and how much better I feel about life in general after I paint.  There is just something about being creative that calms my soul. It is such a peaceful, serene feeling. Kind of like how I feel after a yoga class. Which I have been going to more of lately here in town by the way. Wine yoga and hot yoga. You should try these two classes! Amazing. But I digress.

So there you have it. My analysis of why painting can do amazing things for your body and spirit.

You know what else is good for your body and spirit? Wine! I enjoy a glass of wine from time to time for those well known health benefits. The other glasses are for my witty comebacks and flawless dance moves. Ha.

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References:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2804629/ 

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/which-hobbies-help-an-aging-brain/