It is one of the most popular hymns in the Christian songbook – but the benefits of Amazing Grace are apparently not purely spiritual.
Scientists have discovered that belting out this popular tune for ten minutes can reverse the effects of heart disease.
If your taste is a bit more pop-oriented, the Beatles classic “Hey Jude” will also help – but to a lesser extent.
US researchers from the Medical College of Wisconsin investigated the effects of singing various songs on the blood vessels of older people with heart disease.
The results showed that those who regularly sampled “Amazing Grace,” written in 1772 by clergyman and poet John Newton, saw the greatest improvements in endothelial function — a measure of how healthy the blood vessels around the heart are.
Andrea Bocelli sings one of the most popular hymns from the Christian songbook Amazing Grace
Amazing Grace was written in 1772 by the clergyman and poet John Newton (pictured)
“Hey Jude” from 1968 brought minor improvements, as did Dolly Parton’s smash hit “Jolene” from 1976.
However, the US folk favourite “This Land Is Your Land” – recorded by Woody Guthrie in 1940 – made little difference.
Numerous studies show that singing is good for both physical and mental health.
However, the team from Wisconsin wanted to determine whether the method had a measurable effect on heart patients.
They recruited 65 men and women – most of them in their 60s – who were being treated for heart problems or had previously suffered a heart attack.
They had them sing each of the four songs under the guidance of a singing teacher and measured the changes in their blood flow.
The speed at which blood circulates through the body can provide important clues about the health of the major blood vessels that supply the heart with oxygen-rich blood.
The results, published in the online medical journal medRxiv, showed that 22 percent of volunteers noticed an improvement in blood circulation when they sang Amazing Grace.
But only 10 percent improved when they performed This Land is Your Land.
The results, published in the online medical journal medRxiv, showed that 22 percent of volunteers noticed an improvement in blood flow when they sang Amazing Grace. Singing the hymn could reverse the effects of heart disease
Dolly Parton's 1976 smash hit “Jolene” triggered small improvements in endothelial function – a measure of how healthy the blood vessels around the heart are.
But the US folk favourite This Land Is Your Land – recorded in 1940 by Woody Guthrie (pictured) – made little difference
In a report on their findings, the scientists explained that the physical and emotional effort involved in singing this long-popular hymn could explain the benefits compared to other, less stirring tunes.
“The physiological demands of singing are comparable to moderately brisk walking and we found that Amazing Grace had the largest effect size,” they added.