If Two People Are Truly In Love, They'll Unlock These 9 Pretty Awesome Health Perks
Being in love doesn't just feel good — it actually makes you healthier.
Maksim Goncharenok | Canva Love makes us human. It sounds almost unbearably cheesy, but according to science, it’s kind of true — from an evolutionary perspective, at least.
Since the beginning of time, homo sapiens may have developed feelings of romantic love as a means of encouraging them to pair off, which made raising kids and staying alive and healthy easier. And managing those family bonds required more brainpower, which may have led to greater intelligence and teamwork.
While some other animals couple up in similar ways to humans, most don’t, so love may be one of the missing links that helped us evolve from apes to us. But in order to persuade our less-evolved ancestors to share responsibilities (and food) with another person, love had to have some pretty huge benefits — like the nine listed here.
If two people are truly in love, they'll unlock these pretty awesome health perks:
1. They often have more energy
Drazen Zigic / Shutterstock
When you’re in love, you’ll take any excuse at all to daydream about the object of your affection. And here’s a great one: doing so will boost your energy, according to research.
The study authors tested participants’ blood glucose levels before and after they thought about their partners and found that they experienced a boost at 10 and 25 minutes after. Try it when you’re feeling sluggish after lunch or you need an energy boost during a hard workout.
2. They often are more fit
SUPERMAO / Shutterstock
Sure, in your early days of dating, you might skip the gym in favor of spending time with your new guy or slack off on your diet thanks to those extra dinner and dessert dates. But when you’re ready to get back to it, your significant other can help you do it.
Couples who diet or exercise together have a better chance at long-term success than those who go it alone, according to a study from University College London. It makes sense, right?
After all, it’s harder to clean up your diet when your guy is chowing down on all your old favorites in front of you. Plus, he may be more forthcoming with his support when he feels your pain.
3. They often experience less pain
Drazen Zigic / Shutterstock
When you’re hurt, you often turn to people close to you for comfort. But even if you’re separated from your SO, pulling up his snapshot can ease the ache.
Looking at a picture of someone you’re in love with can blunt pain by up to 40 percent, according to a study. That’s because gazing at your partner's photo activates the reward centers in your brain, which may trigger the release of natural opioids.
4. They often have lower blood pressure
pics five / Shutterstock
Spending time with your loved one helps lower your blood pressure, according to research in Psychosomatic Medicine. Other research has shown that happily married people have a 12 percent lower risk of heart disease compared to singles.
Researchers believe this cardiovascular boost happens because love triggers the release of oxytocin which has anti-inflammatory properties and helps regulate blood pressure. Being in a loving relationship typically means having someone who encourages healthy behaviors, notices when something's wrong with your health, and provides crucial stress-relief during difficult times.
5. They often heal faster from injury
Rido / Shutterstock
Even not-so-great times with your guy have their benefits. Researchers from Ohio State University College of Medicine used suction cups to give married couples small blister wounds, then watched them fight.
Those who worked out their issues in a more loving, supportive way had a healthier immediate immune response than more hostile pairs. As a result, their wounds healed about 60 percent faster.
6. They often have better immune systems
PeopleImages / Shutterstock
While you might think that cuddling with your significant other (or close friends) would increase your chances of getting sick, those hugs seem to trigger your body’s built-in defenses to germs.
In research from Carnegie Mellon University, people who reported hugging others more often experienced less severe cold symptoms than their less-cuddly peers.
7. They often are less stressed
dekazigzag / Shutterstock
As much as we love to love, looking at other couples acting all cuddly can be kind of annoying (especially when we’re not in a relationship at the moment).
But seeing others being affectionate or caring to each other can actually tamp down on your brain’s fight-or-flight response to threatening stimuli — like, in one study, an image of an angry or fearful face.
8. They often have a more positive outlook
Zamrznuti tonovi / Shutterstock
When you’re in love, you tend to view everything through rose-tinted glasses, including your own well-being. People in long-term relationships rate their own mental and physical health as better than those who aren’t, a University of Missouri study found.
When you feel loved and supported, your brain's stress response system calms down, making you more aware of positive sensations and less focused on minor physical or emotional difficulties. Love acts as a buffer against the tendency to get stuck on negative aspects of your health.
9. They often live longer
PeopleImages / Shutterstock
Married men and women have a 24 percent lower risk of early death than singles, according to a review of several studies in the American Journal of Epidemiology. But romantic love is only one way to lengthen your lifespan: Any kind of strong social support can also help reduce your risk of mortality, research shows.
Mirel Ketchiff is a freelance writer and former editor of Shape Magazine.
