The immunity science behind hugging:
Our family has developed this habit of never arriving or departing each other without a hug. It may seem obvious to you, but I know plenty of people who don’t do this.
We’ve never talked about it…it just happens. It feels natural. And if one of my grandkids gets all the way out the door and into my son’s car, she will run back if she forgot to give everyone a hug. And I mean everyone. Even Leroy, the dog. Well now I find that we’re on to something….at least when it comes to our health.
For many reasons there’s been an increased focus on boosting our immune system lately. But today researchers are reporting that we don’t need supplements – or a special diet……what we need to strengthen our immune system is a daily hug.
According to the journal Psychological Science, every time we hug a loved one, we give our immune system a powerful boost. In a recent study, people were purposely exposed to a cold virus……but those who got the most hugs were significantly less likely to get sick.
That’s because, when we’re stressed out, our immune function is suppressed and we’re more vulnerable to infection. But a hug – and the emotional support we feel through that physical contact – dials down our stress, bolstering our immune system, and our ability to fight off infections.
Alright….let me hear it…when was the last time you hugged someone?…and who was it? [email protected]
1 Comment
Reading this gave me a new perspective on why my mood improves so much after seeing my nieces—they’re huge huggers. It’s nice to know those little moments are doing more good than I realized.