The Beatles were spot-on when they said, “I need somebody to love.” The connections between love and physical well-being are more complex than one may expect. As social creatures, humans thrive when they have meaningful relationships. In this case, we are not referring to an exceptionally romantic scenario. Beyond the thrill of falling in love, being in a committed partnership has been shown to improve our psychological, physiological, and spiritual health.
Calming Effects of Nature
It’s well accepted that the “flying on a cloud” sensation you experience when you first fall in love results from a rush of dopamine and oxytocin. A dating site is a place where individuals meet intending to explore love and other sensual fantasies. Couples meet on this site, where they spice up the start of their love journey. Hormones are positively altered by loving spouses’ presence, even after the initial excitement of a relationship has subsided.
Physical touch, a form of nonverbal affection, has been shown in study after study to reduce stress chemicals in the body. You had probably experienced this before when your significant other hugged you after a particularly trying day at work.
In addition to relieving stress in trying times, love also has other hormonal benefits. The stress hormone cortisol has been associated with weight gain, lack of energy, and a compromised immune system when it is present in high concentrations. Long-term couples typically have lower cortisol levels than singles.
Improvements in Cardiac Health
The heart is sometimes referred to as the “love” organ because of the demonstrated positive effects of romantic love on one’s cardiovascular system. While this statement may seem too good to be true, there is scientific proof showing how love can make your heart healthier and more robust. Feelings of affection have a calming effect on the sympathetic nervous system, which controls our “fight or flight” responses. Blood pressure drops, and blood vessel dilation increases with stress reduction. In a study, some couples’ blood pressure was lower when interacting socially with their spouse compared to when they were alone or conversing with other people. Curiously, blood pressure lowered even when the couples felt their relationships were subpar.
Raised Levels of Enthusiasm
When you fall in love, your sexual appetite may increase.
Why do you feel the need always to have sex? Do you feel excited about it? Here, a different group of hormones is at play. The hormones in the androgen family, of which testosterone is a part, boost libido and make you want to have sex with your partner. The release of dopamine and oxytocin after sexual activity can further perpetuate this cycle. Since having sex with your lover you feel good and brings you closer to them, it’s only natural to desire more of it. There’s no reason to feel guilty about it, as sexual activity has many positive effects on health.
Exciting Love is Medication for Relieving Pain
You may have personal experience with the power of remembering a loved one to lift your spirits and give you strength when feeling down. The diversion work and looking at a photo of their companion helped people in an exciting relationship report less pain. Viewing an image of a loved one triggered a positive emotional response in the brain, which may have a pain-relieving effect.
As A Diet Aid, Love Can Help You Stay Trim.
When people start dating, they often make healthy lifestyle choices, including losing weight. When you’re in love, your body produces a lot of adrenaline, which has an appetite-suppressing effect. Since adrenaline keeps you awake, you’ll be less tempted to snack when you aren’t hungry and less likely to cave to late-night cravings for food, both of which can prevent weight gain. And chances are, being in love will inspire you to exercise more to look and feel your best for your lover.
Your Emotional Health Will Improve When You Love.
Everyone knows that falling in love is a time of extreme happiness, but that feeling is more than simply emotional. Because of their heightened vitality, infatuated individuals are likely to try new activities and pursuits. Being loved and loving others is like a vaccine for anxiety. Dopamine, a “feel good” stimulant produced by the brain, is responsible for the happiness, hope, and tolerance of falling in love.
With the many faces of love, from the comfort of a known lover to the unseen but ever-present affection of a committed partner, an exciting love life improves one’s health. Visiting with friends and family has been shown to have health benefits, including reducing stress and anxiety, lowering blood pressure, and possibly improving cardiovascular health. Exciting love is a guarantee of a healthy lifestyle.
