Did you know that love not only makes us happier, it can even make us healthier?
Among other the many other benefits that the feeling of love offers us, research indicates that it may even support heart health, lower stress and increase longevity.
A happier marriage equals a healthier heart
For married couples, a happier marriage can make for a healthier heart. A study out of San Diego University and the University of Pittsburgh found that women who were happily married or living with a partner had lower cardiovascular risk factors including blood pressure and cholesterol levels than those who were unhappily married or unmarried.
One Yale study showed that men who felt they were loved and supported by their wives had less blockage in their arteries than those who didn't feel so
treasured. A similar study of 10,000 married men showed that men who felt their wives didn't show them love had twice as much angina (chest pain) as men who felt love from their wives. This was despite high cardiovascular risk factors.
The power of physical touch
Hugging, holding hands and showing physical affection in general can be beneficial to your health, according to the National Institutes of Health. It can help the brain, heart and other body systems. Whether it's with a spouse, child or a friend, physical affection can increase levels of oxytocin, a hormone that can help:
Lower levels of stress hormones
Lower blood pressure
Improve mood
Increase tolerance for pain
Speed up wound recovery
And more!
In one study, researchers from the University of North Carolina found that women who regularly hugged their significant other had increased levels of oxytocin, which in turn helped lower their blood pressure.
Friendship and well-being
Scientists have just begun exploring the benefits of friendship; research so far indicates that social networks may have a bigger impact on our emotional well-being than familial relationships.
Bottom line? Reach out and give someone a hug -- whether it's a family member or friend!
Students and graduates from several Southland campuses talk of their loans and how paying them off figures into their plans. For some, the path seems secure; for others, uncertainty is the only certainty.
College graduation is typically a time to tally accomplishments and to look ahead. But for many graduates, it is also a time to tally student loans and figure out how to repay them.
The revolution is over — and big wheels have won. The "29er" mountain bike, which first appeared on the scene a decade ago with monster-truck tires 3 inches taller than the age-old 26-inchers, now dominates the market. It's easy to see why: The bike makes you faster and safer, gaining more momentum and floating better over sand and rocks. This year, the demand's so hot for huge hoops that some companies don't even sell 26ers anymore. Others have started experimenting with different-size big wheels, like the 650B, a "27.5er" (reviewed below) that touts faster speed with sharper steering. At the recent Handmade Bicycle Show in Sacramento, one company even rolled out a 36er — a cruiser with 3-foot-diameter tires. A mountain-bike version can't be far behind.
IPhone, iPad and Android apps can help you boost your fitness level. Reviewed: Yoga With Janet Stone, Endomondo Pro, Nike Training Club, Zombies, Run!, Fleetly.
Forget Angry Birds. Your smartphone can be a powerful tool for improving your overall fitness if you give it half a chance.
Sales took off after the supplement was touted on 'The Dr. Oz Show.' But does it really work?
Until recently, very few people had ever heard of raspberry ketones, the aromatic compounds that give the berries their distinctive smell. Today, health food stores have trouble keeping the capsules or drops of the stuff on their shelves. Almost overnight, an obscure plant compound became the next big thing in weight loss — and all it took was a few words from Dr. Oz.
Although they account for 25% of those living with HIV in the U.S., women are significantly underrepresented in clinical trials.
At any one time, hundreds of clinical trials are underway in the U.S. to test simpler and more effective ways to treat and prevent HIV infection, which afflicts more than 1 million people in this country. Most of those in the U.S. with HIV — and with AIDs in its full-blown stage — are men. So, understandably, men make up the majority of the participants in the trials.
CNN.com - Health
CNN.com - Health
CNN.com delivers up-to-the-minute news and information on the latest top stories, weather, entertainment, politics and more.
Creativity has taken center stage in recent years, with a slew of books, articles and TED talks extolling the virtues of imagination and exhorting young and old to go out and exercise their creative muscle.
The 2012 Fit Nation Tri Challenge Team is made up of seven CNN viewers selected to train for the Nautica Malibu Triathlon with Dr. Sanjay Gupta in September. For updates, visit the Fit Nation page, follow the team on Twitter, or like our page on Facebook.
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