Who doesn’t appreciate that magical feeling of being in love?

May ba a handful of
them!!!…. Over the years many studies have shown that being in love goes beyond
that warm and fuzzy feeling and the obvious advantage of always having a date for
Valentine’s Day. Whether you find yourself with a romantic partner, family
members or friends, these special connections have actually proven to be beneficial
to our health.

The health benefits of love may surprise you – love can keep you healthy mentally,
physically, socially and spiritually too.  This is good news for people who spend
time in loving environments and what’s most important is that it’s not just the
physical side from which you can benefit– just being in love is enough.

Professor Jacques Snyman, Clinical Advisor for Resolution Health Medical

Scheme highlights why it is important to make room for love in your life.

1.    Love may make you live longer

Since the beginning of time, humans have depended on one another for survival.
As social animals we all have biological drives that naturally make us want to find
an intimate bond with others. Not finding those connections may result in stress
and other factors, which can affect our lifespan.

“Research shows that people in loving relationships have a lower death rate than
single people, even people who have unhealthy lifestyles tend to live longer than
those who lack social and community support,” says Professor Snyman.

According to a study conducted by Brigham Young University, spending time with

those you love has an extremely positive effect on health and can cut the risk of an
early death in half. The study attributes a person’s lengthened lifespan to high self-
esteem due to his or her partner’s positive feedback, which lowers the chances of
depression.

2.    Love can help combat diseases

What’s better than being in love with your partner to help combat deadly diseases?
Studies have shown that being in love can help combat asthma, arthritis, hay fever,
nasal congestion and even a headache.

“A strong romantic support system protects the body from developing high levels
of cortisol which is a stress hormone. This helps to protect from various diseases
including cardiovascular diseases such as strokes, high blood pressure and
ischaemic heart disease – three of the most deadly diseases,” says Professor
Snyman.

3.    Love boosts your immune system

Having love in your life might just save you from the flu. A recent study showed
that a five-minute episode of feeling genuine care or compassion enhanced the
whole immune system, causing a gradual increase in the release of
immunoglobulin A (IgA), your body’s natural antibody against colds, flu and other
invading germs.

Even watching movies about love, petting an animal and practicing selfless service
for others has been shown to increase levels of IgA.

4.    Love helps you look younger

That healthy glow from being in love isn’t a myth. Many studies indicate that
people in happy relationships look physically younger than those who aren’t.
“With the increasing blood flow to the skin, being in love can increase the supply
of essential nutrients and oxygen to your skin cells, making you look healthier,”
explains Professor Snyman.

5.    Love can keep you slim

It is very common for people to lose weight when they start dating somebody.
“Being in love causes your body to pump out a neurotransmitter called adrenaline,
which acts as an appetite suppressant,” says Professor Snyman.

“Since all that adrenaline is keeping you alert, you are less likely to have late night
food cravings or feel the need to nibble when you aren’t really hungry, which helps
avoid putting on extra weight. Also, chances are that being in love will get you
motivated to exercise more to look and feel your best for your partner,” he
continues.

7.    Love improves self-confidence

People in healthy relationships tend to be more confident in all areas of their life. It
has been proven that getting married and staying married reduces depression in
both men and women.

“Having a positive self-esteem comes from being validated and receiving

affirmation that you have worth. With improved self-esteem, people in love are
often more capable of achieving and maintaining their professional and personal
goals in life,”  says Professor Snyman.

So before you roll you eyes at all the love struck people you are most likely to
come across this Valentine’s Day, keep in mind that there are psychological and
physical benefits to being in love.  Furthermore being compassionate and loving to
those close to you is bound to have you feeling good about yourself mentally,
emotionally and physically too. If that can result in you even looking a tad bit
younger then that’s  reason enough to pursue love this Valentine’s Day