Valentine’s day is a wonderful time where we get 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 a special one!

When new patients come into my office I always ask about their support system. This includes close family, romantic partners, friends and anyone else that they feel a close 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 who are trying to do it all alone.

In fact, NOT having healthy social relationships has been linked to higher risk for illness and disease. Being lonely was found the be 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.

You already know love makes you feel weak in the knees and gives you butterflies in the stomach, but it does much more than that. Love, and the effects it creates has massive health benefits.

Feeling loved and connected has been shown to:

• Improve cardiovascular health
• Reduce cancer rates
• Reduce risk of heart attack
• Increase energy
• Increase longevity

Even if you are not in a romantic relationship, you can still experience these benefits. Romantic love has its perks but everyday caring for people in your life matters just as much to your health. For more on the health benefits of love click here.

Intimacy improves your health.

Getting intimate on a regular basis boosts your immune system. Your body’s defenses go to work and help you to 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 almost as well as prescription medication. (2) For more on how intimacy helps heal your body click here.

Here are some of my favorite recipes to put together on Valentine’s Day for my wife.

After you have enjoyed your Romantic plate of Oysters balance out your gut with some lovely greens.

After a heart-healthy plate of greens lets move on to the main course.

Partha’s Prescriptions 

• 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 stable, long-term relationship.

References

1. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/08/170805165319.htm

2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15740822