Hugging a person is happiness; It is a good habit to express warmth and love.
Hugging has many benefits, not only physical but also emotional. So I want to tell you about the health benefits of hugging for 20 seconds.
1. Improves mood
When we hug someone, our bodies release oxytocin, a hormone that helps us feel good. Oxytocin is released in both men and women, but it’s especially high in women after they give birth. Studies have shown that hugs help people recover faster from surgery, and reduce their risk of heart disease and stroke.
2. Boosts immune system
Hugging releases endorphins, chemicals that make us happy. Endorphins are similar to morphine, and act as natural painkillers. They’re also known to boost immunity, making us less likely to catch colds and flu.
3. Relieves stress
A study published in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science showed that those who hugged had lower levels of cortisol (a stress hormone) than those who didn’t.
4. Makes you look younger
According to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, people who hugged were rated as being significantly younger than those who didn’t hug. Researchers believe that the positive effects of hugging may be due to the fact that it increases blood flow to the brain, which makes us feel happier and calmer.
5. Helps you sleep
Another study found that people who hugged before bedtime reported sleeping better than those who didn’t get any physical contact at night. Scientists think that the calming effect of touch helps us fall asleep easier.
6. Reduces anxiety
In a study published in the journal Hormones and Behavior, researchers found that participants who received a massage felt less anxious than those who got no massages. Massage therapy has been proven to improve circulation, relieve muscle tension, and calm the nervous system.
7. Increases creativity
A study published in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience suggests that hugging boosts creativity. Participants who were given hugs performed better on tests of divergent thinking — the ability to generate many different ideas — than those who weren’t.
