Can a Hug Give you an Extra Year of Life?

Yes, we believe so!

“They said that with a glance, the woman gave them the light of the sun on a new day, with a smile she granted them one more life” The Nameless.

My best friend Lucas and I used to give each other one more year of life with a hearty hug.

After the hug we both had to say out loud “One More Year of Life” looking into each other’s eyes and the deal was done.

Being the hopeless romantic a that I am, I fell in love with my best friend. How could I not? But not when we met. We met when we were 13 and 14 in Gran Canaria living in the same neighbourhood and going to the same school we used to meet halfway to school at the junction that crossed our paths and walk together. Later, after over ten years of friendship, destiny had it that we were both living in London and together as flatmates for a couple of years. That’s when we came up with the hearty hugs and the extra amounts life.

I’m not surprised if we have given each other at least 30+ years longer to live.

Lucas’ and my “thing” about hugs inspired the mystical and enigmatic qualities of the woman in “Aquella Mujer” or “The Nameless”.

As we always believed without the need for verification science proves us right. Hugging can indeed elongate your life.

Here is what studies say:

Hugging can lower your cortisol levels.

“Having this friendly touch, just somebody simply touching our arm and holding it, buffers the physiological consequences of this stressful response,”

Matt Hertenstein PhD

Hugging boosts your oxytocin levels naturally. Oxytocin is a hormone that is often dubbed “cuddle hormone” “or the social hormone” is linked relationships aspects such as bonding, devotion and trust. More substantial levels of Oxytocin are related to better heart health

Hugging can help you feel less alone. Studies show that a good hug, the release of Oxytocin or the social hormone can help you erase feelings of isolation, feel more connected and trust others.

Hugging helps us communicate in a ways words can’t. When you hug someone, words aren’t needed to express your feelings.

Hugs help you handle conflict. During a study, 400 people over two weeks found that getting a hug after a conflict helped them squelching aftermath negative feelings.

Hugging improves physical performance. A study reported by The New York Times in 2010 found that athletes performed better when they showed physical contact such as hugging.

Hugs help with Public Speaking. A study found that people who had a 20-second hug from their partners before the stressful and at times challenging public speaking activity felt less stressed than does who did not have a hug

Hugging can be a form of pain relief

Fahad Basheer, MD, writes that:

“Hugging can alleviate pain in several ways. The first is by releasing endorphins which block pain pathways; the second is by improving circulation, which removes pain peptides.”

You can borrow our “One More Year of Life Hug”. But do it now. Do it often.