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Hugs for Health!
A Bite-Size Read for Your Health and Waistline
We’ve all heard the phrase, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.” As a health coach, you might expect me to be a big fan of that one! Sure, it’s an oldie and a goodie. Yet there’s another simple, effective tool for health that I think goes wildly underestimated — hugs.
I’ve talked about them before, especially when discussing vagus nerve as hugs are one way to tone this connection between the gut and the brain. I’ve also talked about the importance of connection and community in longevity and they’re key commonalities among Blue Zones, parts of the world where people live the longest, healthiest lives. Perhaps community and connection are even more important today; we all remember The Pandemic. In 2023, the US Surgeon General declared America has been experiencing an epidemic of loneliness over the last few years. What’s more, it said, “The health risks of social disconnection are similar to smoking 15 cigarettes a day.” This gave me a ‘wait, what?!’ moment!
Already knowing community and connection are important, I was curious, what specifically makes a hug different from a chat with your friend or even spending time with a loved one?
First, we have the happiness hormone, oxytocin. Hugs, cuddling, or even sitting next to someone can release oxytocin, the happiness hormone, which can help…
