National Hug day...THE 10 BENEFITS OF HUGGING!
1) Hugs make us feel “happy”! When we hug another person, our bodies release oxytocin, a hormone associated with “happiness,” according to scientific studies. [1]
2) Hugs alleviate stress! Just as a good hug increases our oxytocin levels, it decreases our cortisol or “stress” levels. [2]
3) Babies need hugs as much as water and food! According to researchers at Harvard University, hugs help promote normal levels of cortisol necessary for child development. [3]
4) Hugs make us better students! Students who receive a supportive touch from a teacher are twice as likely to volunteer in class. [4]
5) Hugs improve our game! Scientists at University of California, Berkley discovered that the more affectionate members of a team are with each other, the more likely they are to win. [4]
6) A hug a day keeps the doctor away! A hug stimulates the thymus gland, which in turn regulates the production of white blood cells that keep us healthy and disease-free. [5]
7) A hug stops the bug! Researchers at Carnegie Mellon proved that individuals who were sick and received hugs had less severe symptoms and were able to get better quicker. [6]
8) A hugging heart is a healthy heart! Research from University of North Carolina showed that a good hug helps ease blood flow and lower cortisol levels, which in turn help lower our heart rates. [7]
9) A hugging couple is a happy couple! Couples that experience their partners’ love through physical affection share higher oxytocin levels. [8]
10) Hugs let someone know you care without having to say a word! According to Dacher Keltner, professor of psychology at University of California, Berkeley, we can identify love from simple human touch – imagine how much love a big hug can communicate! [9]
Sources:
[1] http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/11/101115160304.htm
[2] http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/01/05/touching.makes.you.healthier.health/
[3] http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/1998/06.11/OfHugsandHormon.html
[4] http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/23/health/23mind.html
[5] http://preventdisease.com/news/14/012314_9-Reasons-Need-Giving-Receiving-Hugs-Everyday.shtml
[6] http://bigthink.com/ideafeed/boost-your-immune-system-with-hugs
[7] http://www.prevention.com/health/health-concerns/hugs-boost-immune-health
[8] http://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2007/February/docs/01features_01.htm
[9] http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/hands_on_research
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