Cuddling is one of the easiest way to experience the intimacy we need with our loved ones.
Along with so many benefits, it’s definitely something that can’t be sacrificed. Cuddling is not just for women, men long to cuddle as much as women do
Cuddling has no age or It is not just for women, men long to cuddle as much as women do. Whether you are old or young, it will benefit you in many ways that include the ones below.
It is highly recommended by many professionals including doctors, love therapists, life coaches among others for example “Cuddling is such a great way for couples to connect!”, said Sarah Watson, LPC and CST. She continued that “Body to body touch release oxytocin, which helps us bond, and can lower anxiety, depression and blood pressure.
Cuddling doesn’t have to be between you and your romantic partner. It doesn’t even have to be with another person—you can rub your own shoulders! You can also hug friends or play with your pets. If you don’t want to be social or don’t have a furry friend, never fear! You can take a warm bath or get a massage. Feeling warm and connected by some sort of touch is enough to release oxytocin into your system and get you feeling good. Since cuddling can be exercised at any time and also in any weather, you should it more often.
There are many surprising benefits of cuddling, it’s good for your body and soul — read on, and you’ll want to cuddle someone right now
1. It Improves Your Heart Health
One study from University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill researchers that included 100 adults found that a brief hug followed by holding hands while watching a 10-minute video was associated with lower blood pressure and heart rate, when compared with people who didn’t hug and hold hands. If that’s possible in 10 minutes, imagine what an entire afternoon of Netflix and actually chilling might do??
Also, Catherine A. Connors says, in University of Washington: Catherine A. Connors, hugging increases oxytocin levels, which is a ‘bonding’ hormone—this chemical reaction can help to reduce blood pressure, which in turn reduces the risk of heart disease.
2. It Boosts Your Sexual and Relationship Satisfaction
Cuddling boosts your sexual and relationship satisfaction — especially if you have kids. A University of Toronto Mississauga published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior in 2014 found that cuddling more after sex was associated with higher sexual and relationship satisfaction, even three months after the study period. The study also found that effects were more pronounced for women than men and that couples with children reported even higher benefits than childless couples.
Oxytocin is sometimes called the “love hormone” — you often have more of it in your blood if you hug your partner a lot. Couples who cuddle and kiss freely tend to be happier, healthier, and less stressed. Cuddling doesn’t have to led to physical intimacy, but it could if you wanted it to
3. It Helps You Sleep
A 2003 study by researchers at the Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry found out that oxytocin promoted sleep in the brains of mice. Cuddling helped in releasing the oxytocin hormone, which in turn promotes better sleep by reducing the effect of stress hormone cortisol. However, there was one caveat, however: It had to be under stress-free conditions. So maybe in order to get this benefit you should make sure not fight in bed?
4. Good for Baby’s Health
Cuddling can boost an infant’s oxygen levels, calm its breathing, and ease pain signals. And for an underweight baby, it raises survival chances by more than a third. It helps the brain grow and makes infection and other illnesses, like hypoglycemia or hypothermia, less likely.
5.Helps you communicate emotions
Research confirms that touch is a way to communicate emotions such as love, gratitude, and sympathy between loved ones. Happiness and sadness can be communicated through touch, too. Surprisingly, the results of one 2009 study found that touch also fosters emotional communication between strangers.
6. It helps in boosting your Immune system
Cuddling helps in releasing the serotonin hormone “a happy hormone” and along with oxytocin, which help to boost our immune system. A 2014 study from researchers at Carnegie Mellon University found that people who hugged more were less likely to contract a cold after being exposed to the cold virus and that those who did get sick had less severe symptoms. Cuddling will help you forget the vitamin C pills.
7. Relieves Pain
Cuddling and releasing oxytocin will decrease your pain levels. In a University of California study, if someone cuddles us, we feel less pain. Right from the time we are born, the power of touch is very important and it stays so till the day we die. So if you are in pain, whether it is emotional or physical, hug your partner every day to feel better. Cuddling in the form of therapeutic touch may even have the power to reduce pain. Therapeutic touch is the method of placing your hands on or near the body to balance energy and promote natural healing.
8. Improves Confidence in yourself
Allowing your partner or another person to hug or cuddle with you takes some good courage. Some people do even hit their heads due fear of not knowing how to do it. But if you master the art of cuddling. You can do it any time you want without even fearing to hold someone to tight. Or not. You get something to be proud of.
9. Lowers blood pressure
Touch has a calming effect which may lower blood pressure. Research has shown short periods of hand holding and hugging lowers both diastolic and systolic blood pressure. High blood pressure is linked to heart disease and stroke, so regular cuddling should be part of any high blood pressure treatment plan.
10. It Promotes Bonding
Oxytocin was isolated by scientists that it’s released in order to promote bonding between women and their babies. But it turns out it’s not just great for mother/child bonding — it’s also excellent for connecting more strongly with a romantic partner. Oxytocin helps relax the mother, so that breastfeeding may come more easily. Research suggests oxytocin helps you bond with those in your inner circle. In other words, the more you cuddle with your closest friends, the tighter your bond will be.
11. Relieves stress and anxiety
According to one 2004 study, massage in the form of stroking, squeezing, and stretching can help relieve stress and anxiety by increasing dopamine and serotonin in the body. These two neurotransmitters help regulate your mood. Dopamine also regulates the pleasure center in your brain. Also, Oxytocin inspires positive thinking. For example, when someone hugs as you arrive at the party where you only know one person, you feel happier.
Cuddling eases stress by releasing oxytocin, which is like an all-natural anti-anxiety medication. But it’s also a time that your body is relaxed and comfortable; a break from the hectic nature of most people’s daily lives. We’re usually doing other relaxing things when we cuddle — watching TV on the couch, lying in bed — and taking time for breaks like that is great for stress levels, too.
Hope from now and on wards you will make sure that you get a cuddle or hug from someone whether your partner or a friend. And hope you wont be shy to confidently give it after knowing some of its benefits
