Beyond romantic love, love has become an evolutionary advantage for the human being, as it activates reward circuits in the brain that cause innumerable benefits. Up to 12 areas of the human brain are involved in this feeling, an emotion that mainly causes neuronal alterations that generate positive effects in our organism. We also explain “how your health affects your love life” and have recommended some Valentine’s Day supplements for a better and unforgettable Valentine’s Day.
There are different kinds of love, all positive. However the strongest and most studied is the infatuation, which is when there is an uncontrollable feeling of joy. Taking advantage of the fact that Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, we have compiled six news stories where you can see how love affects your health.
- Being in love strengthens the immune system and consequently improves the state of health. According to the genetics researcher at the University of Barcelona, David Bueno, the fault lies with the biochemical reactions experienced by a person’s body when he is in a phase of infatuation.
Bueno commented that “the mechanisms that are put in place during infatuation are the same as those that act when a person becomes addicted to some substance”. So he ruled that love “is an addiction”.
After this, the expert points out, “the receptors of stimuli become saturated and act on the endorphin hormones that are responsible, among other aspects, for pleasure and tranquility”.
- When the love is of the good we can come to think that it is addictive, and there is no lack of reason. According to a study by the University of New York (USA), falling in love produces a brain effect similar to a dose of cocaine. The fault lies with dopamine, a substance that appears in the blood when you feel pleasant sensations such as having sex, eating chocolate or using drugs.
In such situations, the hormones oxytocin and vasopressin are later produced in the blood, which stimulate the formation of emotional contact between lovers. The study recalls that Oxytocin appears when you look into your lover’s eyes for a long time, hug yourself, or during a sexual act.
- We do not know if love erases the pain but what is certain is that it reduces the pain. At least this is what a Stanford University Medical Center study claims that intense, passionate feelings of love can provide pain relief similar to painkillers or certain drugs like cocaine.
According to Sean Mackey, head of the study, “when people are in the phase of the most passionate love there are significant alterations in their mood that impact on their experience of pain”. Specifically, the areas of the brain activated by intense love are the same as the drugs used to reduce pain.
How your health affects your love life
Scientific studies have suggested that happiness plays a major role in our health. Our research has also suggested that being healthy will play a massive role in our love life. The question we ask ourselves now is “how does being healthy affect our love life?”
There are certain hormones which play a role in our mental health, and most times these hormones are influenced by the micronutrients present in the food we eat. There are seven nutrients whose deficiency can cause depression and anxiety and they include: Omega 3 fatty acids, vitamin B, Iron, Vitamin D, Selenium, Magnesium and Iodine. These are the Valentine’s Day supplements that play a particular role in the activation of the happiness hormones (endorphins, dopamine and serotonin). Must be your first time hearing about a happiness hormone right? Do your research then!
These are some of the few reasons why you must get your Valentine’s Day supplements like pure fish oil and multi-vitamins for a memorable valentine’s day.
