Valentine’s day is a wonderful time to celebrate our connections with those we love. While you are out celebrating this year, I want to provide you with some inspiration as to why your health will improve through love and connection. I’m also giving you a special treat: heart-healthy recipes to make this Valentine’s Day special!
“Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength while loving someone deeply gives you courage.” -Lao Tzu.
When new patients come into my office, I always ask about their support system. It includes close family, romantic partners, friends, and anyone else they feel an immediate connection with. Humans are hard-wired for connection; we are not meant to be solitary creatures, and our bodies crave physical, emotional, and intellectual connection with other people. My patients who have strong relationships and support systems are much more likely to achieve vibrant health and healing than those trying to do it all alone.
In fact, NOT having healthy social relationships has been linked to a higher risk for illness and disease. Being lonely was more detrimental to one’s long-term health than even obesity! (1)
Let’s use this Valentine’s Day to get closer to those that matter to us.
Health Benefits of Love
You already know love makes you feel weak in the knees and gives you butterflies in the stomach, but it does much more. Love and the effects it creates have massive health benefits.
Feeling loved and connected has been shown to:
- Improve cardiovascular health
- Reduce cancer rates
- Reduce the risk of heart attack
- Increase energy
- Increase longevity
Even if you are not in a romantic relationship, you can still experience these benefits. While romantic love has its advantages, daily care for others is crucial to your health. For more on the health benefits of love,Β click here.
Intimacy Improves Your Health
Getting intimate boosts your immune system. Your body’s defenses go to work and help you fight off infection. Your risk of heart disease and prostate cancer decreases. If that isn’t reason enough, it’s been proven that frequently hugging people you love can lower your blood pressure and prescription medication. (2) For more on how intimacy helps heal your body,Β click here.
Heart Healthy and Dr. Nandi Approved Recipes!
Here are some of my favorite recipes on Valentine’s Day for my wife.
Appetizer
For Health Benefits,Β Click Here.
After enjoying your Romantic plate of Oysters, balance out your gut with some lovely greens.
Salad
After a heart-healthy plate of greens, let’s move on to the main course.
Main Course
Side
Finally, finish the night off with a healthy Vegan Black Forest Cake.Β
Dessert
Bonus! Add some Magic to your evening byΒ Dancing!
Partha’s PrescriptionsΒ
- Boost your immune system, lower your blood pressure and add years to your life by carving out more time for intimacy.
- Kiss for at least 30 seconds a day to lower stress levels.
- If you don’t currently have a love interest, don’t fret; spending time with close friends and family creates a similar health boost.
- While new love is always exciting, most health benefits come from a stable, long-term relationship.
References
- https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/08/170805165319.htm
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15740822
