If you knew that hugging and kissing not only felt good, but had health benefits, would you be inclined to do it more?

With stress and anxiety that is at an all time high, I thought it might be beneficial to re-share this post I wrote about the Health Benefits of Hugging, Kissing and Cuddling.

Personally, I am a big hugger and I love to kiss, too. I heard many years ago, that you should have a minimum of 7 hugs a day for Optimal Health, I think that has changed to a recommendation of 8 hugs per day for Optimal Health!

Let’s take a look at how hugs, kisses and cuddling can be beneficial to your health.

Scientific research has shown that the human body is controlled by the brain and heart and that they depend on love and affection to an extent. When your brain and your heart are in coherence you are in a better state of homeostasis overall.

Your heart generates a magnetic field that emits approximately 12 feet around your body! It is the strongest EM Field in the body and is more than 5000 times the greater than the strength of the field generated by the brain. This magnetic field generated by our heart is interacting with anyone in our vicinity and I believe worldwide. The closer we are to each other, the stronger the field, especially when you are feeling Love or appreciation for the other person or animal. Like ripples in a pond electromagnetic fields interact and entangle with each other. Hugging is a tremendous way for our electromagnetic field to interact with another being. By simply intending it we can encode love and positive energies into our field which can be transmitted while hugging, kissing or cuddling.

Hugging, kissing and cuddling all increase oxytocin and other hormones and chemicals in our body.

FUN FACT: Research has shown that hugging even for just 10 seconds can have physiological reactions in the body that can significantly improve your overall health.

What is Oxytocin?

Ocytocin is a major feel good hormone.

Oxytocin is a powerful hormone and acts as a neurotransmitter in the brain. It regulates social interaction and sexual reproduction, playing in role in behaviors from maternal-infant bonding and milk release to empathy, generosity, and orgasm.  (source: https://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/oxytocin)

When oxytocin is released into your blood stream, pain decreases, hormones that fight infection are released, and your immune system gets a boost among other things. When oxytocin in released into the body, your heart rate is lowered and so is your cortisol. I don’t have to explain that lowering your heart rate, especially with the daily stresses of life, can be highly beneficial to your health.

What is cortisol?

Cortisol maintains steady blood sugar levels and helps provide energy to your actively functioning brain and neuromuscular system. It is also a potent anti-inflammatory hormone; it prevents the widespread tissue and nerve damage associated with inflammation.

High cortisol levels have been linked to fatigue, weight gain, muscle weakness, emotional upsets & depression, decreased concentration, low libido, blood sugar imbalances, high blood pressure and more.

Hugs and kisses also stimulate the brain to release dopamine or the pleasure hormone. Think back to a time when you fell in love with someone new – you had more energy, you could go all day and maybe all night without sleep and still go to work the next day (I have personally experienced this), you probably felt invincible, like you were on top of the world and nothing could stop you. And, you noticed all the wonderful and good aspects of your new partner which can be sustained with practice. That is the dopamine response in your body. And, it feels amazing! Hugging, kissing and cuddling can release this wonderful feel good hormone into your body with tremendous healing benefits.

Kissing also lowers stress hormones and increases serotonin levels in the brain. Studies have also shown that kissing lowers anxiety and has similar benefits to meditation. Now, I love my meditation, but, would rather kiss my way to good health any day!

Kissing also raises your mood by increasing endorphins, which are our feel-good hormones.

One article I read stated that  “A 20-second hug, along with 10 minutes of hand-holding, also reduces the harmful physical effects of stress, including its impact on your blood pressure and heart rate.”

An interesting fact that I found is that kissing increases saliva that washes our teeth, therefore can actually help in the prevention of cavities. Hmm.. who knew? And, studies have also found that our saliva secretes natural antibiotics when we kiss. Either way, you don’t need to convince me to kiss more!

It has also been found that when you kiss someone your hormones interact and this can be expressed as attraction to another person. Hence why sometimes when you kiss someone you may feel a sexual chemistry or simply a friendly gesture.

Studies have also shown that you don’t have to hug, kiss or cuddle with a sexual partner or another human (although I find this a great reason to increase hugs and kisses with my mate!). It is equally beneficial to hug your pet.

Personally, I always seem to feel better after a real heartfelt hug from a loved one or friend! How many people can you uplift and maybe help heal with a hug today – including you?

– Yvette Marie is a Certified Energy healer, certified Thought Field Therapy practitioner, and Advanced Bio-energetic muscle testing practitioner using advanced energy and body scans through Quantum Techniques methods. Yvette has also been certified as a Reiki practitioner and Access Consciousness practitioner. She is not a licensed therapist. Energy healing is not intended as diagnosis, prescription, or treatment for any disease, physical or mental. It is also not intended as a substitute for regular medical care. –

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