Most of us already know that cuddling with someone, whether it is our pets, best friends, partners or kids, makes us feel cozy, safe and warm. It's what we want to do when it's cold at home, or when The Walking Dead is on TV and zombies are all around.
I have just received this photo and I was wondering if snuggling could be scientifically proven to be healthy. We all know about LOVE as a powerful medicine but what about cuddles (a love expression)? Does cuddling make any difference? Fortunately, the answer is YES. As it turns out, cuddling might as well be a miracle medicine resulting as the ultimate skincare treatment. This is what I've found out. Several studies have shown it and these are the 5 reasons why:
1. Cuddling makes us happier.
When you're physically close to someone, you tend to feel happier and healthier. Touching someone releases dopamine and serotonin, both of which can boost your mood and curb depression.
Furthermore, when a person is physically close to someone, his or her body releases oxytocin, another "happy chemical" that contributes to us cultivating and maintaining intimate, and healthy relationships.
2. Cuddling can strengthen our immune system.
Intimacy is healthy. The human touch has been shown to drop a person's levels of cortisol, the main biological cause of stress. Cortisol suppresses the immune response. Anything that increases the relaxation response triggers the restoration of your immune response.
The result: Your body is more able to fight off viruses and inflammation, making you happier and healthier.
3. Cuddling makes us less anxious.
Not only does close proximity to other humans make you feel happier, it can also decrease your worries and anxiety. When you touch someone, the skin-on-skin contact signals your adrenal glands to cease excessive amounts of cortisol production.
4. Cuddling could help us sleep better.
Oxytocin does more than help us bond and potentially increase happiness. Since increased levels of oxytocin help you relax and reduce high blood pressure, it could also be connected with better sleep.
5. Cuddling goes hand-in-hand with closer relationships.
Studies have shown that people that regularly cuddle and snuggle are most likely in healthier relationships.
Conclusion? Cuddling is definitively excellent. So if you want to spend the evening cuddled up on the couch with the closest person/pet, you should. Because science says so, and you would be doing some good to your body . Besides, the result will be reflected on your skin providing you a remarkable radiance! Because skin is a reflection of your overall health.
Glow naturally!
Sonia x