Love and health go hand in hand. Humans need that level of connection and being in a relationship can reap rewards.
Solid scientific evidence shows that relationships have positive effects on your health, especially your mental and physical
Good marriages promote health and longevity. When you’re on your own, contributing factors to ill health can include loneliness, depression and higher stress levels. It’s important that we keep factors like these under control in order to lead a healthy and happy life.
So, with Valentine’s Day approaching, here at Airborne® we share our top 5 ways that being in love can benefit your health and wellbeing.
Promotes healthy behaviors
Even when you’re in a relationship, it’s important to understand that you are individually responsible for your own happiness and
When you have each other, it’s easier to get motivated and get off the couch. Encouraging one another to
When you’re cooking for two, it encourages you to cook proper meals, whereas when you’re single, you may be less likely to eat healthy meals, instead opting for more ready meals and take outs.
Being in a relationship and feeling pleasure can create a positive attitude. It’s important to have a positive outlook on life and when you’re experiencing new things with your loved one, you can focus your attention on this pleasure and consciously enjoy new experiences as they unfold (Harvard Health Publishing, 2017).
Provides mental support
Having social support from your loved ones is very beneficial as it has a lot of symbolic meanings, creating a sense that one is loved, cared for and listened to (NCBI, 2011). Being close to your partner can also soothe stress and anxiety (Web MD, 2013). You can share your worries with your loved one and talk about what is on your mind. This can help reduce the weight on your shoulders and help share everyday burdens that can occur.
Relationships help retain a sense of purpose (Harvard Health Publishing, 2017). You have a greater sense of responsibility to stay healthy for the sake of your loved ones. The emotional support you receive enhances psychological well-being, reducing the risk of unhealthy behaviors and poor physical health (NCBI, 2011). There is also evidence to suggest that the support and intimacy felt from a hug can help protect against stress and infection (Carnegie Mellon University, 2014).
Time with other people makes us happier on a day-to-day basis, and time with a close partner can provide a buffer against the mood dips that come with increased physical pain (Harvard Health Publishing, 2017).
Supports your cardiovascular health
A happy marriage may be good for your blood pressure (Web MD, 2009). When you’re stressed you may pick up bad habits that can contribute to a high blood pressure. These unhealthy habits include eating unhealthily, drinking alcohol or smoking (Mayo Clinic, 2015). Interacting with your partner can help reduce these stress levels and more importantly reduce blood pressure (Psychosomatic Medicine, 2001).
A recent study of 25,000 people in England found that among people having a heart attack, those who were married were 14% more likely to survive and were able to leave the hospital two days sooner than single people (EurekAlert, 2016).
You can influence your loved one’s heart health by setting an example. If you follow a healthy lifestyle then it’s more likely that your loved ones will follow suit (NIH, 2012). Supportive interactions with others benefit immune, endocrine, and cardiovascular functions and reduce allostatic load, which reflects wear and tear on the body due, in part, to chronically overworked physiological systems engaged in stress responses (NCBI, 2011).
Boosts immunity
Studies have found that people in happy relationships have stronger immune function than those who are not. Cortisol, a hormone your body releases when you’re under stress, tends to release in lower amounts in married people as compared with those who are single. When you have high cortisol levels it can impair immune function (Harvard Health Publishing, 2016). During periods of increased stress, the immune cells are bathed in molecules which are essentially telling them to stop fighting. It suppresses the immune system and inflammatory pathways, rendering the body more susceptible to illness (Dartmouth Undergraduate Journal of Science, 2011).
Being in a relationship helps broaden your positive emotions. The trust and compassion that you share can buffer against depressive symptoms and help reduce levels of stress (Psychology Today, 2016).
These are just a few ways that love can help to improve your immune system. Airborne Gummies Plus Probiotic includes a specially crafted blend of Vitamin C and 9 other vitamins, minerals and herbs. The added probiotic helps to balance the good bacteria in your intestine*. Show your body a little more love; take the Immune Support Supplement today and start promoting your immune health*.
References
ASPE (2007) The effects of marriage on health
Carnegie Mellon University (2014) Hugs Help Protect Against Stress and Infection
Dartmouth Undergraduate Journal of Science (2011) The Physiology of Stress
EurekAlert (2016) Marriage could improve heart attack survival and reduce hospital stay
Harvard Health Publishing (2010) Marriage and men’s health
Harvard Health Publishing (2011) Two Techniques for reducing stress
Harvard Health Publishing (2016) The health advantages of marriage
Harvard Health Publishing (2017) 5 research-backed lessons on what makes a happy life
Harvard Health Publishing (2017) How to achieve a positive attitude
Mayo Clinic (2015) 10 ways to control high blood pressure without medication
NCBI (2011) Social Relationships and Health: A flashpoint of health policy
NIH (2012) Love your heart
Web MD (2009) 10 surprising health benefits of love
Web MD (2013) 10 surprising health benefits of sex
Psychology Today (2016) Positive Emotions and Wellbeing
Psychophysiology (2014) Energized by love: Thinking about romantic relationships increases positive affect and blood glucose levels
Psychosomatic Medicine (2001) Partner Interactions Are Associated With Reduced Blood Pressure in the Natural Environment
*THESE STATEMENTS HAVE NOT BEEN EVALUATED BY THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION. THESE PRODUCTS ARE NOT INTENDED TO DIAGNOSE, TREAT, CURE OR PREVENT DISEASE