You can show your love and improve your health as these two things very much go hand in hand.
This is not about candy for your Valentine but it is about showing real, true love.
Certainly you can, and should, declare your love out loud but there are also silent ways in which to do so as well. These silent ways can speak volumes.
- A loving gesture.
- Holding hands.
- A look held just for them.
- Hugs.
- Kisses.
- Making love (not having sex but truly connecting with wonderful love making).
And then there are other ways that you can show your love and reap many, many health benefits.
- Creating the space and time to connect with your loved one.
- Listening without interruption.
- Discussing what they told you in a way that shows you truly heard them.
- Sending a random text telling them what you love about them.
- Preparing a special meal.
- A random phone call just to say hello.
In these ways, and many other ways, you can improve your loved one’s health while improving your own.
A University of Pittsburgh study tells us that women in healthy relationships have a lower risk of heart disease than those in high-stress relationships. Given that heart disease will kill six times as many women as breast cancer and is the leading cause of death among men and women this is very important.
The National Longitudinal Mortality Study has found that people in a happy marriage live longer and have a lower risk of cancer.
Of course this makes sense when we consider that stress can raise your blood pressure, cause stomach issues, damage your brain, impede your sex life and deplete your white blood cells. The depletion of white blood cells can also increase your risk of cancer which makes it interesting to note that a University of Iowa study proves that folks in a happy relationship have more white blood cells than those who are not.
Carl J. Charnetski, PhD has proven that immune function is increased with having sex once or twice per week.
Sorry, after three times the immune function theory no longer holds true.
Oxytocin, a hormone that is critical for a woman to create social affiliations, is increased with hugging and hugging may lower blood pressure. Oxytocin is also more prevalent, in both men and women, during orgasm.
So really what are you waiting for? Go find your love and tell them that they are just what the doctor ordered.
If you liked this post please like, share and comment before you go and get that loving. 🙂
14 thoughts on “How To Show Love And Improve Your Health”
Hi Dr. Elise. Thanks for sharing the information. I’m glad there are studies now that show some of the benefits of expressing your love. I like hugging my wife and kids and holding hands. It feels good and those actions align either the heart chakras or palm chakras between the two people for a physical energy exchange. Also, caring about someone, or three someones in my case with my two kids, gives you a stronger reason for living.
I love when the chakras align in just that wonderful way. We are social beings and we are meant to share our love in good and productive ways.
When I read of oxytocin I always think of strong close labor contractions because I was given it to speed up delivery of my second son. Ouch. I’m pleased to read that it’s normally stress reducing 🙂
With busy lifestyles it’s easy to forget those little loving gestures that mean so much emotionally and for long term health. Thank you for the warnings and the reminders, Elise.
Ah yes the love hormone, oxytocin, does help us to bring that little bundle of joy and pure love into the world. It makes perfect sense that your mind went in that direction.
Thank you for visiting. It is my pleasure to have you here and to try to help you in any way possible.
Hi Dr. Elise,
Love these tips for a loving relationship! So many of these loving acts are easy to implement. I love surprising my hubby with different presents. For example, he mentioned he missed Italian beefs from Chicago and I bought a rump roast and made it in the slow cooker. It came out delicious. He was happily surprised! Anytime he says, “I wish…” I try to find something to surprise him. It’s the little things that can show love.
Thanks for sharing,
Lillian
They do say that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach 🙂 This is a wonderful example of a loving act that comes from a simple thing. Thank you for sharing this idea.
Hi Elise,
Well, for me, love is about loving my family and dogs. The other sort didn’t really work out LOL.
But hey – I can get just as many warm feelings by sharing love with my family and kindnesses with my friends. Hope that’ll work 🙂
Joy – Blogging After Dark
LOL – Hey, I love pets too. That is one of the reasons that I teach Iridology. 🙂
Hi Elise 🙂
So many fantastic points you made in your post, thank you 🙂 Showing your love can happen in so many ways, and it is all about those “little” and “special” ways that make a difference!
Thanks so much for sharing! Really enjoyed reading 🙂
Thank you very much. Love really can be expressed in a plethora of ways …the most important thing is to actually show it. 😉
Hi Dr. Elise,
Loved this post about how showing & sharing love makes for a healthier life. Because I do a lot of similar research, I’ve also found many of the same conclusions you mention in this post.
And, I like your subtle humor, to wit: Carl J. Charnetski, PhD has proven that immune function is increased with having sex once or twice per week.
Sorry, after three times the immune function theory no longer holds true.
Funny stuff. Thank you for the smile,
Edward
Edward, thank you. I am sitting here with a big smile on my face at the thought that you enjoy my humor. I am thrilled to help to put a smile on your face. I look forward to reading your research, as well.
Hi Elise.
this are very good suggestion for a good and loving relationship.
Often in our stressful time, loving gestures are seldom remembered
and listening preparing meals the same. I often thought maybe not
doing things like this may be the reason for the heart disease.
Good to remember that loving care for each other is good for the
health as well and practise it more.
Thank you
Erika
It is so true that the more stressed that we feel the more we forget the loving gestures. It is especially unfortunate as these are the times that we need it the most.