30 Reasons Why Being a Grandma Is Great for Your Health
Better schedule your next babysitting date!
Of course, the biggest reward of being a grandparent is the smile from an adorable grandchild. But spending time with the kids — from little ones to adult-age — comes with a whole slew of positive health benefits too.
Each hug is like medicine.
Whether you're snuggling a newborn or greeting your teen grandkid with a hug, these little moments of affection have been found to lower your heart rate.
Their games can help improve your balance.
Though you have plenty of wisdom to give, it's amazing what grandkids can teach you. Take one of their favorite hobbies: Video games. Playing them with your grandkids can actually help your sense of balance, of all things.
You get plenty of Vitamin D.
Playing outside with your grandkids naturally boosts Vitamin D levels, which help everything from improving bone health to your mood.
You're stronger.
Picking up grandchildren is the easiest form of strength training! This kind of workout can help you live longer, adding almost 2 years to your life expectancy.
Your bonding time can help prevent heart disease.
A walk to the park or just around the neighborhood with your grandkids is a no-sweat way to help prevent heart disease and diabetes, especially after dinner.
The happiness grandkids bring has a lasting effect.
Even thinking of the way your grandkids light up around you puts you in a positive frame of mind. Having such positive moments to draw upon contributes to "emotional vitality," which is a quality that helps safeguard against heart disease and other health problems.
You're less tense, in general.
Why? Because kids are just funny! And all that laughter is a great way to relieve tension and stress.
Taking care of grandchildren reduces your Alzheimer's risk.
Here's a good reason to help babysit, other than for the fun of it: A 2014 study found that grandmothers who helped care for a kid one day a week had a lowered risk of developing Alzheimer's.
Grandkids help you keep active.
Reports found that grandparents are more likely to stay active compared to those who don't have grandchildren. It's probably from all that playtime! These fun activities help improve joint mobility.
Their hugs help change your brain for the better.
Hugging grandchildren releases oxytocin, a substance that helps relieve stress and delays some of the processes cells experience as they age.
You'll also sleep better.
Keeping up with grandkids can leave you tired in the best way, helping to improve the quality of your sleep.
Grandkids keep you socially engaged.
Whether you're hanging out with your grandkids in person — or connecting over social media — staying engaged can help stave off dementia.
Sharing your wisdom reduces anxiety.
Sharing stories from the past is a great way to bond and teach your grandkids about what life was like for you growing up. But telling these stories also has been found to reduce anxiety and depression.
Babysitting improves your cognitive abilities.
It's all about that social engagement! But, it's worth it to set boundaries: Too much caretaking can have a negative effect on cognitive health.
You (and your grandchild) reduce your chances of developing depression.
This one is the greatest reason to develop a close relationship with your grandkids. One study tracked the relationships between grandparents-grandchildren for 19 years and found that those with close relationships reduced both their chances of developing depression.
You'll live longer.
Seeing your grandchildren regularly can have a powerful benefit to your overall health, helping you live an average of 5 years longer.
Playtime also helps increase brain power.
You're way smarter even after playing a silly kiddie game or helping out with a craft, with these activities helping to improve your memory.
You'll get a white blood cell boost with every cuddle.
Yep! Hugs and cuddles also help decrease inflammatory cells.
You're more likely to take care of yourself.
Grandchildren are great motivators. It's been found that grandparents often naturally take steps to improve their health and fitness levels just because they want to be the best for the younger ones in their lives.
Grandkids reduce your risk of stroke.
Chalk this up to another benefit to being socially engaged, which is more likely to happen when you have grandkids.
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