A surfer enjoys a cool surf at sunrise at Sydney's Manly Beach
A surfer enjoys a cool surf at sunrise at Sydney's Manly Beach February 19, 2004 as Australia experiences heatwaves from coast to coast. Soaring summer temperatures over 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Faharenheit) and tropical-like humidity have left Australians sweltering for the past week, forced zookeepers to cool down animals with blocks of ice and caused power shortages due to a big increase in the use of air-conditioners. REUTERS/Tim Wimborne

A new research revealed that positive emotions, especially the feeling of admiration and wonder, help the body in being healthier. The study conducted by the University of California, Berkeley showed that the feeling of awe experienced when one comes in touch with art, nature and spirituality causes anti-inflammatory effect by promoting healthy levels of cytokines.

Cytokines are proteins that help the immune system to work harder. While they help the body fight diseases, the study also disclosed that high levels of the said protein cause chronic diseases such as type-2 diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, Alzheimer's disease and can also lead to clinical depression. Ultimately, it leads to poor health.

UC Berkeley psychologist Dacher Keltner, a co-author of the study, stated in the press release that the exposure of one to good music, or a beautiful environment stimulates the positive feeling of awe. This affects one's health and life expectancy.

To determine this, two studies were conducted on 200 adults. They were asked to state the number of times they experienced positive emotions,, such as compassion, awe, joy, love and pride, within one day. On that very same day, samples of gum and cheek tissues were taken. It was seen that those who experienced greater levels of awe hadexhibited lower levels of “cytokine, Interleukin 6, a marker of inflammation,” the press release stated.

Increased level of cytokines was also seen to cause depression as well as block hormones and neurotransmitters that affect the mood, appetite and memory. The aforementioned hormones are serotonin and dopamine. Moreover, the feeling of awe was seen to cause an increase in creative thinking as well as contribute to personal transformation.

"Awe is associated with curiosity and a desire to explore, suggesting antithetical behavioral responses to those found during inflammation, where individuals typically withdraw from others in their environment," said Jennifer Stellar, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Toronto and lead author of the study.

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