Share the Love! It’s Good for Your Health

Posted: February 13, 2024 | By: Shanon Peckham

February is the season of love! It’s time for cozy date nights, fun Valentine’s Day gift exchanges, and heart-shaped everything (including our Triple Chocolates). And whether or not you’re a fan of this romantic holiday, there’s plenty of love about love!

Giving and receiving love not only feels great, but it can also be really beneficial for your health. And we’re not just talking about the romantic kind of love either.

Here are 4 ways you can share the love and enjoy better health this month:

1 Hugs, Touch, & Physical Intimacy

Especially for those whose love language is touch, there’s nothing more satisfying than receiving a nice, heartfelt hug. From small family get-togethers to international sporting events, people embrace all over the world – even complete strangers – because it just feels so joyful! As it turns out, hugs can do more than just lift your spirits, and there’s a biological reason behind why we enjoy them so much. This comforting gesture of affection has been shown to reduce blood pressure, stress levels, and even provide immunoprotective effects.^1,2,3 Other forms of physical touch, like sexual intimacy, can also trigger similar benefits, with the added bonus of, umm, calorie burning.

Whether you’re snuggling with a partner, hugging a friend, or cozying up with a beloved pet, we think physical touch is a great way to share the love and good health!

2 Connection and Kindness

Empathetic connection is one of humankind’s most unique qualities and greatest strengths, so it’s no surprise that we thrive when we focus on creating fulfilling relationships and interactions in our daily lives. Thanks to several recent studies,^4,5 we now know that engaging in random acts of kindness (one of Youngevity’s favorite ways to spread the love!) and building authentic, loving relationships can improve our longevity and mental/emotional well-being. As one of the studies’ lead doctors put it, “We think that it’s partly that calming effect when we’re stressed that protects us from the ravages of time.”

Not sure where to start, or searching for new connections? Dr. Robert Waldinger says you can strengthen your existing relationships by reaching out regularly to connect, or start meaningful new friendships by pursuing one of your passions alongside other like-minded people.

3 Romance

You’ve probably heard the phrase “Love is blind.” According to Harvard Medical School, this timeless, poetic phrase is both a great way to sum up the feeling of giddy panic often associated with a new romantic relationship and the science behind why we feel this way in the first place. “When we are engaged in romantic love, the neural machinery responsible for making critical assessments of other people, including assessments of those with whom we are romantically involved, shuts down,” explained Dr. Richard Schwartz.⁶ So we may not be thinking as clearly when in love, but on the upside, the pursuit of a new partner can be a good motivator for taking better care of ourselves. In our love-crazy state, we may drop bad habits (like smoking) and generally take better care of our bodies, likely resulting in better health and confidence.

Bonus: Even if the new relationship isn’t going as well as you’d hoped, you can take comfort in knowing that we humans tend to find those who already have partners more appealing as a trend⁷ – probably, in part, because of all that effort you put into your own self-care. So keep taking good care of yourself and watch sparks fly!

4 Self-Love

Self-love is probably the most important love of all. We all have mental and emotional needs that not even the kindest, most supportive partner or friend can fill, and that’s where self-love is essential. According to science, there is a clear connection between self-esteem/self-concept and well-being.^8,9,10 For example, unchecked shame (self-hate) can lead a person to undertake self-destructive behaviors and self-isolate, trapping them from getting the help they need or improving their circumstances.^8,11 Alternatively, the better we take care of ourselves and find compassion for ourselves (especially on bad days), the happier and more confident we will feel overall. We will probably also feel physically better as well, since a healthy amount of self-love can help mitigate the effects of stress on our bodies (much like healthy relationships with others).¹²

Ensuring your life is full of self-love means you’ll always have plenty of love to share, empowering you to build healthier relationships and expectations for your life. Set aside some time this Valentine’s Day to pour some extra love into your own cup!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Whether you’re doing something nice for a neighbor, spending time with a cherished partner, or cuddling with your favorite furry friend, there are many ways to share the love with your loved ones and community this February! We hope we’ve inspired you to give yourself a little extra love this Valentine’s Day as well.

If you’re looking for a good way to kick off a conversation with someone new, why not try a small holiday gift? Our Valentine’s Day Gift Guide includes our favorite nutrition products, makeup bundles, and healthy chocolates, all wrapped up in cute, seasonal packaging!