Love and What Else?

When the flowers have withered and the sweets digested, you might have your loved one to thank for contributing to your health.

What else can love do? Well you might be surprised at the many health benefits it brings other than that bittersweet feeling it’s generally associated to. A lot of studies prove that there’s more to love than meets the eyes.

Love reduces stress
Most people presume that engaging in a relationship is stressful—looks like they were wrong. According to researchers in the University of Chicago, being in a relationship (assuming that it’s a happy one) can help lower levels of cortisol–a stress hormone. So the next time you’re feeling stressed-out, you might want to try spending some time with your loved ones.

Lowers blood pressure
Other than reducing stress, love also significantly reduces the overall blood pressure. According to a study by One Brigham Young University, happily married people have lower blood pressures than single people.

Improve mental and physical health
An editorial published in Student BMJ concluded that men committed in a relationship have better physical health while women committed in a relationship have better mental health than other people who are not. It just goes to show that love doesn’t make you stupid in fact, it’s the opposite!

Healthier heart
A recent study in Finland published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology showed that marriage significantly decreased the risk of both fatal and non-fatal heart attacks among men and women of all ages.

Helps you live longer
If you’re looking to live for a couple of years longer, find a partner and get committed. Studies have shown that single people die earlier than married ones. Having a loving and caring partner goes a long way especially in your life-span.(Adapted by Daryll Arcayan)

Sources: HuffingtonPost, MedicineNet 

Photo above: There is more to love than meets the eyes. (Image credit: www.rediff.com)