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Hug it Out

9.14.12
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After prescribing a number of pills and treatments, my doctor, Dr. Ron Hunninghake of the Riordan Clinic, added nonchalantly, “Oh, and Meghan, tell that fiance of yours he needs to get to work. You need to be hugged 10 times a day.”

What?

At first, I thought he was joking. After all, it was my first appointment with Dr. Ron. But then he proceeded to explain exactly why I needed 10 hugs a day, at the very least.

Turns out hugs may indeed be the healing touch. A number of studies have found hugs reduce blood pressure and more importantly, the stress hormone cortisol.

Now we’ve all heard time and time again stress is bad, but we never hear exactly why. So here’s the deal. High levels of cortisol trigger our bodies to go into the survival “fight or flight” mode. In that mode, our bodies shut down all systems that require too much energy — digestion, reproduction, the immune system — in order to preserve energy in case we must, well, fight or flight. As a result, our bodies don’t operate properly when stressed, causing a host of problems, most importantly, a lowered immune system, which greatly increases our chances of being sick.

Thankfully, our bodies have been equipped with an antidote: a hormone known as oxytocin that counteracts and suppresses cortisol. Every time we hug, oxytocin is released producing a wondrous anti-inflammatory reaction in our body. In fact, the effects of a hug — and oxytocin — are so wondrous they’ve even been proven to slow down aging.

Talk about an easy cure. Well, I should say, easier said than done. After being instructed to hug 10 times a day, I discovered I receive on average only 2 hugs and 1 long cuddle at night. Pathetic. I remember to take my nasty pills and gag-me concoctions on a daily basis. Yet I can’t squeeze in 10 feel-good, super-enjoyable hugs?

And I’m not alone. Here in the U.S. we’re not very touchy-feely. In fact, Parisian couples touch three times more than we do. Talk about sad. We need to up our affection factor. Big time. And the only way to do that — as I’ve learned — is to make a conscious effort.

So the next time — and every time — you see someone you love, hug it out. Repeatedly. After all, it’s for your health.

And if they’re too macho for that much touch, tell them about the Australian study that found men who were the biggest huggers were more likely to be financially successful — as well as happier. That should persuade them.

One Response to "Hug it Out"

  1. Munavvar says:

    I need this boy’s more photos. Could you send it to my email? If you have, please, don’t hesitate to send it, because it is so important for me.

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