The Beatles may have been on to something when they sang “All you need is love…” . Falling in love has numerous health benefits, including being good for your heart.
1. Love is (literally) good for your heart
When you’re talking to someone you find attractive, your brain sends impulses to your heart making it pound three times faster than normal. This results in increased blood supply to your body, particularly your cheeks and sexual organs, which gives you the feeling of butterflies in your stomach.
A study conducted at the University of North Carolina found that couples who spent time in close physical contact, including hugging and talking with each other, had higher levels of oxytocin – the love hormone. Women also benefited from lower blood pressure. So go and give someone a hug and help your heart!
2. Love makes you smarter
Falling in love induces a calming effect on the body and mind by raising levels of nerve growth for about a year. This hormone-like substance helps to restore the nervous system and improves memory by triggering the growth of new brain cells.
3. Love helps fight cancer, benefits your immune, endocrine and cardiovascular systems
A new study from the University of Iowa found that ovarian cancer patients with strong and satisfying personal relationships had more vigorous white blood cell activity at the site of their tumours than those who didn’t have close relationships. These desirable white blood cells kill cancerous cells as part of the body’s immune system.
Research also shows that loving acts neutralise the kind of negative emotions that adversely affect immune, endocrine and cardiovascular function. So go on…love a little!
4. Love makes you live longer
Studies have indicated that social isolation increases the risk of early death by up to five times. Feeling connected is essential to good health.
Love and focusing our attention on giving or helping others can increase our immunity by de-stressing us as well as possibly extending our life spans and reducing depression. You just need to look at Nelson Mandela and Mother Theresa to know this is true.
5. Love can lower your cholesterol
Research has shown that expressing your feelings of affection can reduce cholesterol levels. A study in Human Communication Research found that people who wrote about their feelings of affection for significant friends, relatives, and/or romantic partners had significantly lower cholesterol levels than those that didn’t.
6. Love can keep you looking younger
The endorphins produced by the body when you’re in love increase blood flow to the skin, which helps keep it soft and smooth, and reduce the development of wrinkles. The increased supply of essential food and oxygen to skin cells when in love also give the face a pinker, healthier glow.
…and sex There’s plenty of health benefits there too!
- Sex helps you sleep better
- it improves your sense of smell
- reduces your risk of heart disease
- sex strengthens your pelvic floor muscles
- sex reduces depression and relieves stress
- boosts immunity
- and best of all, sex also burns kilojoules!
What are you waiting forn Go fall in love!
I like the 6 health benenefits…