Art is a "fundamental human experience," and has benefits beyond the obvious. New research shows that the practice of making some kind of art, whether it's drawing, painting, or even marking in a coloring book, can lead to many health benefits. Art can even make you live longer! And you don't even have to be creative, or create art. Just seeing and appreciating art by others gives those benefits as well. Some studies show that art can help with chronic pain, obesity, dementia, Parkinson's disease, depression, and other conditions.
Art stimulates both our neurological and physiological systems. It builds connections between the neurons in our brains. It reduces the amount of cortisol, the stress hormone. CNN talked to two authors about the latest research on how art affects our health. They tell us how to make art a part of our daily lives and give us tips on better appreciating the art we experience for our health. -via Damn Interesting
(Image credit: Talmoryair)
