Italy: Actors Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh during their wedding in Italy.
So are you in love?Got struck by Cupid's arrow?Is there any special one who has taken your breath away?
If yes, You have one more reason to celebrate. Apart from all the good feelings and happiness, love is responsible for good health too. This fact was discovered by the scientists at the Loyola University Chicago.
Love releases feel-good chemicals
According to the research, love release a whole feel-good chemicals that is responsible for the activation of special physical reactions. Not only this, love can help your cheeks flush, hearts race and palms sweat.
There are certain factors involved in this. One is the increase of substances in our body that include dopamine, adrenaline and norepinephrine, when we fall in love. While each generates its own unique reaction: dopamine is responsible for feelings of euphoria, adrenaline and norepinephrine makes the heart go pitter-patter, also responsible for restlessness and overall preoccupation that happens when one experiences love.
Even our brain gets the heat of the love, as certain MRI scans gives evidence of how the pleasure center of the brain lights up with love. Doctors saw increase in blood circulation in this area when we fall in love. This is the same side of the brain which eis responsible for obsessive-compulsive behaviors.
Love helps lower complusive disorders
The research saw lower levels of serotonin in people who are in a relationship. This is a common agent in people with obsessive-compulsive disorders. It is responsible for our behavioural traits at the start of our relationship and the amount of attention and care we give to our partner during the early stages of a relationship.
That's how the phrase 'love is blind' became a valid notion as during the early stages of relationship, we give so much of importance to our partner and make them our world. So even the people who look it from the outside gets a much more objective and rational perspective on the partnership than the two people involved do.
However, the scientists even gives us a piece of advice and warns that these good vibes and responses may go against us in the long run.
We know that there are three phases of love :lust, attraction and attachment. The feeling of lust is when we seek for more desire and is considered a hormone-driven phase. It is during the stage of attraction when the blood flows to the pleasure center of the brain and it is during and the body develops a tolerance to the pleasure stimulants. Apart from this, the three reactions :Endorphins and hormones vasopressin and oxytocin also develops in the body at this point creating an overall sense of well-being and security that is conducive to a lasting relationship.
Love is good for your heart
If you are in love and are involved in a relationship, it is going to benefit your heart.
There are many theories that proves the fact that people who are married or who are in close and are in healthy relationships tend to smoke less , have more chances to remain physically active and are more likely to have a well-developed social structure. Not only that, they may have lower levels of stress and anxiety in their day-to-day lives, may seek medical attention more quickly, and may be more likely to take preventive medications.
Researchers from Finland revealed that married men and women have relatively lower chances of developing heart attacks and dying from a heart attack compared to people who were single.
The study identified the fact that that people who are involved in long-term loving relationships have higher chances of experiencing neuro-hormonal changes that have positive effects on the body, including the cardiovascular system. This in itself is an indication of how certain hormone levels in the body vary depending on the level of an individual's stress and anxiety.
It is good to be in a relationship as long-term positive relationships develop positive effects on your cardiovascular system and negative relationships involving conflict or negativity are associated with an increase in risk for coronary artery disease.
Foods of 'Love'
The scientists have seen a good heart rate when people eat dark chocolates and red wine. So this valentine's, why not gift your loved one a box of dark chocolates and a bottle of red wine, if you care for your partner's heart.
Dark chocolate contains flavonoids, which are antioxidants. Antioxidants have positive effects on many different body systems including the cardiovascular system. The high concentration of cocoa in dark chocolate appears to be what offers the flavonoid benefit.
The researchers believe that dark chocolates have compunds that helps to lower blood pressure, lower blood sugar levels and improvement in the way your blood vessels dilate and relax,
Many doctors recommend dark chocolates and red wine to keep your true love's heart beating strong. It should be consumed on a regular basis and is not just a gift on a specific occasion like Valentine's Day. Generally, red wine and dark chocolate are good health choices and should be taken in moderation.
It is important to note that red wine and dark chocolate should have higher content of cocoa, as cocoa content of 70 percent or higher contain resveratrol that is a natural ingredient to lower blood sugar. Not only that, red wine is also a source of catechins that aids "good" HDL cholesterol.
You can say "I Love You" in eight different ways through diet:
Red Wine - Pinots, shirahs, merlots -- these are all red wines that are a good source of catechins and resveratrol to help 'good' cholesterol.
Dark chocolate, 70 percent or higher cocoa content -- Truffles, soufflés and even hot chocolate are good sources of resveratrol and cocoa phenols (flavonoids) with high content of cocoa in dark chocolate.
Salmon/tuna - Especially white, or albacore, tuna and salmon are excellent sources of omega-3 fatty acids, and canned salmon contains soft bones that give an added boost of calcium intake.
Flaxseeds - They come in brown or golden yellow, and both are a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, phytoestrogens.
Oatmeal - Whether cooked for a breakfast porridge or used in breads or desserts, the oatmeal is a good source of soluble fiber, niacin, folate and potassium. The usefulness of black or kidney beans can't be neglected either as they are good source of niacin, folate, magnesium, omega-3 fatty acids, calcium, soluble fiber.
Walnuts and almonds - They both are great sources of omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin E, magnesium, fiber and heart-favorable mono- and polyunsaturated fats.
Blueberries/cranberries/raspberries/strawberries - Berries are a good source of beta carotene and lutein, anthocyanin, ellagic acid (a polyphenol), vitamin C, folate, potassium and fiber.
