A Hug for Your Health

Oh, I love hugging. I wish I was an octopus,
so I could hug 10 people at a time!
~Drew Barrymore

 

When you think of hugs you generally think of a physical embrace between two or more people. The actual benefits of hugs are generally overlooked. Virgina Satir, an American psychotherapist is well known for saying “You need four hugs a day for survival, eight for maintenance, and twelve for growth.”

The actual fact is – she’s not far from the truth! It’s long been known that hugs are responsible for the release of two feel good chemicals: serotonin and dopamine. These chemicals are involved in the brain’s ‘reward system’, which is associated with pleasure, enjoyment, mood and motivation.

But that’s not all. Research carried out by the University of North Carolina has shown that hugs have an amazing array of health benefits, including lowering blood pressure and reducing heart rates, increasing nerve activity and much more.

The study involved 20 couples who were asked to hug while researchers measured their levels of oxyticin. Oxyticin is a ‘bonding’ hormone that is released during childbirth and breastfeeding, and is known to help reduce the risk of heart disease. When the couples hugged for 20 seconds, their oxyticin levels increased, with those loving relationships experiencing the greatest increase.  The hug also triggered a decrease in blood pressure and levels of the stress hormone, cortisol, in the women. It is thought that women benefit the most from hugs because of the increase of their comfort levels by promoting feelings of acceptance and compassion.

Hugs in a relationship help to keep that feeling of closeness and have been proven to help sustain a relationship.

Hugging is practically perfect: there are no movable parts, no batteries to replace, no periodic check-ups, has low energy consumption, high energy yield, is inflation-proof, non-fattening, has no monthly payments, no insurance requirements, is theft-proof, non-taxable, non-polluting, and is, of course, fully refundable.”~ Sharon Lindsey

So what are you waiting for? Pick one of the hug below and go out now and improve someone’s health and day, by giving them one of your best hugs!

Types of Hugs:

Bear hugs:	Are very strong. Generally given by someone bigger than you
Octopus hugs:	Hugs that cover your whole body with love
Puppy hugs:	Are very soft and wet
Fish hugs:	Are very cold and generally not reciprocated hugs
Mummy hugs:	You can never get enough of a good old mummy hugs
Daddy hugs:	Are best when he first walks in the door
Brother hug:	Generally called a buddy hug, or man hug, and usually involves a pat or thump on the back
Sister hug:	Generally known as the single arm hug. Ideal for walking together.
Grandfather hugs:	Very often given without him leaving his seat
Grandmother hugs:	Can be given anywhere but most effective when given in the kitchen
Aunt Dorothy:	Best tolerated once a year and usually end up with lipstick on your cheek
Blanket hugs:	Completely surround you and make you feel warm and secure
Hurt hugs:	To make the pain go away
Achievement hug:	For doing well at something (usually shows pride)
Well done hug:	For trying even if you didn’t succeed
Thank you hug:	To show someone you appreciate their help
Romantic hug:	To say I love you!

Don’t forget to hug your Mum this Mother’s Day, 9th April!