Friday, December 14, 2007

A cuddle a day keeps the doctor away

There’s even more scientific research now that proves intimacy is good for your health mentally, emotionally and physically. I find this information refreshing. For too long, relationships have been rubber-stamped with warnings of heartaches, break-ups, and the dreaded gift that keeps on giving and the likes.

Fashion magazines are notorious for this. How many times have you stood in line at the grocery stores browsing magazines with headlines that read: “10 Signs He Cheating On You, ” “Relationship Killers,” “Oh No He Didn’t…He Did What?!?” Quite discouraging, if you ask me. Imagine what an alien from another planet would think if he she/he read these articles. (Read: “Wow, these humans have really messed up personal lives, I don’t see why anyone would want to be in a relationship.”)

I think we should proceed with caution when it comes to relationships, but we shouldn’t let fear take control. Enjoy being in a relationship, and once you feel the slightest worry, address it and move on. Keep it positive. Don’t pick up the fashion magazine to read what you should do, you’ll just agonize yourself even more.

Healthy relationships are good, and I’m not just talking about ones with significant others. Go ahead hold your dad’s hand, kiss your mom on the cheek, say hi to the stranger at the grocery store. Positive social interactions boost our bodies’ ability to heal itself. Researchers attribute this to an increase in a beneficial hormone called oxytocin, which plays a role in mother-baby bonding and feeding. People who have strong friendships, or happy, committed relationships, tend to produce higher levels of oxytocin than people who are single, isolated or insecure about their relationships.
So kiss your sweetheart, hug your friend, flirt with your crush. Trust me, you and your body will thank you.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

It's the cuddle hormone! So does this give me an excuse to go out more...for us to go out more?

Midge said...

I have to say there is something to that mother baby thing, who knew. You should pick one up, they're great. That or a man like Ryan, he does the trick for me too.

Chowza said...

Babies are great. I can't wait to "pick one up." :) Soon...