How love inspires you to better health

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich (WOTV) -  

There have been numerous songs written purporting the benefits of love and being in love. Many people do not know or understand the significance of having Love present in our lives. Love effects our physical well being, our emotional, mental, and spiritual health as well.

Being in love makes us more giving and unselfish. These attributes have correlated to better overall health. Love helps make the bad things that may happen not so bad and the good things even better.

Medical research has shown being in love leads to lower blood pressure and better heart health. The findings further show that that along with your healthy heart you could experience a lower risk of disease, be less likely to indulge in vices such as smoking or binge drinking and have a longer expected life span. How about a hug? According to research from the University of North Carolina, when you engage in a warm embrace with someone you love (parent, child, friend or spouse), your body releases oxytocin, the feel-good hormone, which reduces stress hormones and lowers blood pressure. Holding hands is also good for calming nerves and gives you that warm from within glow.

Being in love is not limited to romantic love. The presence of love in our lives includes family, friends, pets and even more importantly ourselves! Study after study has proved that lack of love in our life is detrimental not only to our emotional health but also has adverse affects our physical well-being. I think that we can choose to live in love and surround ourselves with love each and every day.

Live longer, live better in Love.