Lessons from LeAnn
As you're cutting valentines, wrapping chocolates, or buying roses (hint hint) consider this research proving that love:
1. Reduces stress When we're in a loving relationship, our adrenaline glands produce dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) hormone, a stress reducer.
2. Promotes mental health
The calming effect of DHEA helps restore nerve growth, which improves memory recall. (Maybe I need to love even more!)
3. Reduces pain
Love activates the pain control part of the brain.
4. Fights cancer
Cancer patients with loving relationships develop more white blood cells, which help fight cancer.
5. Lowers blood pressure
Happily married people have better blood pressures than singles or those unhappily married.
6. Reduces heart diseases
People who express feelings of affection have significantly lower cholesterol levels, lowering risk of cardiovascular diseases.
7. Increases life span
Lack of love can cause social isolation which increases the risk of early death by nearly five times. Married people live longer, have shorter hospital stays and fewer doctor's visits!
8. Boosts immune system
People in love are less likely to get flu and cold viruses, plus their wounds heal faster.
9. Keeps us young
DHEA also acts as an 'anti-aging' hormone, producing feelings of youth and vitality. Endorphins produced by a body in love increase blood flow to the skin, helping to reduce wrinkles. (aha!)
10. Blesses our spirits
All major religions extol the importance of loving God, our neighbors, and, yes, ourselves.
So What's Love Got to Do With It? Apparently everything! Love is good medicine! Perhaps it's true: All You Need is Love!
