Happy Valentine’s Day! To celebrate, we thought it would be appropriate to share some healthful ideas related to love. The concept of “love” may seem immeasurable, however numerous clinical studies have been conducted that measure and reveal the affects that love has on the human brain and general well being.
To reap the health benefits of love, contact does not need to come from a romantic relationship – healthy friendships, family relationships, parenting, general social contact, and self-love can all provide healthful advantages.
For expecting or new mothers, here’s an interesting case study to consider regarding loving physical contact with children.
Psychoanalytic psychiatrist Rene Spitz conducted a study which involved two groups of babies. One group of babies was cared for with good hygiene and excellent physical care but received little if any individual love or attention. This group became physically and emotionally stunted. Most could not walk or talk even at the age of four. “Within two years 37 percent … had died from infection.” In contrast, a second group of babies was cared for in a prison nursery that was “far dirtier” but received loving affection from their mothers each day. “Not a single one of the second group of children succumbed to infection during the five-year period of Spitz’s study.”
On the more romantic side of things, a US News and World Report revealed, “Those who engage in frequent sex have a better sense of smell, lower rate of heart disease, improved physical fitness (probably because they’re motivated to work out), and healthier body weight.” Don’t go jumping into bed with everyone you meet, but recognize the value that a healthy relationship can provide.
On a molecular level, the hormone Oxytocin (aka “the love hormone”) is responsible for regulating dopamine release into the brain. Dopamine is a chemical that can make you “feel good” by giving you extra energy and motivation and decreasing pain – when falling in love or having loving interactions with others these hormones and chemicals boost your feelings of well being and mood. Relaxing and having lowered stress is linked to health benefits such as a stronger immune system.
Love can be developed in many ways, here are a few tips to start today!
- Focus on a proper intake of nutrients such as selenium, iron, zinc, b vitamins and vitamin D. Deficiencies can cause changes in mood or depression, which can make it difficult to want to interact with other people.
- Make a goal to give/receive 3 hugs per day, start with 1 if you have to.
- If you have a partner, go for a walk and hold hands, this will get you a dose of dopamine from the exercise and the warm contact.
- Meditate or pray for yourself and others, which allows you to mentally focus on positive loving feelings.
- If you don’t feel you have many family or friends to rely on, volunteer in an environment where you can be around other people. Not only will you be giving care to others, you will introduce yourself to new potential social relationships.
For a long time now we’ve understood that there is a connection between high levels of stress and getting sick. Stress that we experience not just physically, but emotionally and psychologically as well, can have a detrimental effect on our immune system. So the question becomes, if too much stress can be harmful to immune function, does that mean the opposite is true? Could relaxation, positive thinking and an optimistic outlook on life actually help your immune system? According to a recent study, the answer is YES! The study can be found at www.mercola.com, but we’ve included Dr. Mercola’s summary below as well.
“In a study of about 125 first-year law students, researchers examined the relationship between personal optimism and cell-mediated immunity (CMI), which plays a central role in protecting you against viral infections.
At five points over the course of the school year, participants answered a series of questions and had their CMI measured through a simple skin test. To gauge their optimism level, they were asked to what degree they agreed with a series of statements, including “I will be less successful than most of my classmates” and “It’s unlikely that I will fail.”
The end-of-year results were decisive. Changes in CMI across time correlated with changes in optimism. When optimism increased, so did CMI. When optimism decreased, so did CMI.”
Well-being is about more than physical health alone. It is also about psychological and emotional health. More and more researchers are helping us understand the role that emotional and psychological stress can have on our bodies and overall health. Unfortunately, the number of people being affected by conditions such as depression and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is on the rise. Currently, an estimated 15 million people are affected by some degree of mood change and the numbers continue to grow. Because what we eat has an enormous impact on our brain function, nutritional deficiencies will affect our ability to process and cope with difficult emotions. Standard Process has developed a whole food supplement specifically designed to assist with emotional and psychological health called Min-Tran.
“Feelings of sadness or emotional turmoil can occur when the mechanism in the brain designed to adjust mood in response to different degrees of stress, fails to respond. Since the brain is an intricate and complicated organ that requires a number of nutrients in order to function properly, diet greatly influences the brain’s ability to function at optimal capacity. The mineral complexes found in Min-Tran support nervous system health and help stabilize levels of important neurotransmitters that are associated with mood. Min-Tran, a natural calmative, can help create and sustain a more tranquil mood on the inside to help keep reactions to life’s challenges on the outside in greater balance.” - Min-Tran Product Detail Sheet
For more information about Min Tran or Standard Process please call our office or visit Standard Process online at www.standardprocess.com
Maintaining your exercise program can be a challenge during the winter months – freezing temperatures, rain and snow can deplete anyone’s motivation for staying in shape. As tempting as it might be to stay on your couch during the winter months, one of the best things you can do for yourself is exercise. During the winter months especially our bodies need the activity and fresh air. According to Dr. Joseph Mercola (www.mercola.com) some of the benefits to maintaing your exercise program are:
1. Exercise helps boost your immune system, which means fewer colds and flu during the winter months.
2. Exercise has been shown to decrease your risk of diseases as wide ranging as Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and cancer. In addition, there is evidence regular workouts can cause healthy structural changes in your heart.
3. Exercise is also a great way to relieve tension and manage the dangerous physical symptoms of stress. When you exercise, endorphins are released in your brain. Endorphins are all natural tranquilizers and mood elevators which create feelings of relaxation and renewal.
Dr. Mercola has written an excellent article about how to beat the winter blues with exercise. We’ve included the link below.
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/01/23/Winter-Workouts-Can-Boost-Your-Mood.aspx
