What role does hugging play in our health? Are these exchanges of affection essential to our survival? Discover how many hugs a day science recommends.
Let’s start by defining exactly what cuddling is: it’s prolonged and affectionate physical contact between two individuals in which they hold each other close.. A hug is literally a non-sexual embrace.
This prolonged physical contact is first and foremost that between a mother or father and their new-born baby. Studies have shown that premature babies who had immediate skin-to-skin contact with their mother post-delivery gained 47% more weight than those placed in an incubator. Other studies have shown that cuddles in early childhood induce changes that affect gene expression in the baby, an effect which potentially extends until adolescence.
Thus each cuddle automatically and unconsciously takes us back to this first protective act at the beginning of life, specific to all mammals.
In adulthood, the act of cuddling continues to trigger the release of sufficient oxytocin (the ‘love and attachment hormone’) to stimulate the immune system and to maintain one’s place within a group of individuals (the tribe or pack, whichever it may be) (1-6). Indeed some doctors suggest that 4 hugs a day will get you through winter without catching a cold (7)…
If oxytocin is considered the hormone of sociability and attachment it’s because it influences trust, empathy, generosity, sexuality, marital and social ties; it promotes protective behaviour in the mother towards her child; it stimulates lactation in nursing mothers; it inhibits stress hormones in social interactions, etc.
In addition to oxytocin, hugging triggers the release of endorphins (pain-relieving/feel-good hormones), dopamine (pleasure/motivation hormone) and serotonin (happiness hormone). A genuine weapon against depression!
According to a well-known American psychotherapist, we need “4 hugs a day to survive, 8 to function, 12 to grow”.
In order to produce these effects, a hug should last at least 20 seconds. But studies show most people actually hug for just 4-5 seconds, hence the idea that we need this magic figure of 4 hugs a day to ‘survive’.
Any additional hugs thus constitute a bonus: several studies have demonstrated positive effects in terms of empathy, confidence in oneself and in others, immune defences, etc. from a daily oxytocin injection which provides the same amount of oxytocin produced by an actual 20-second hug.
People of all ages then, need at least one big, 20-second hug a day (or 4 small hugs), if not to survive then at least to remain physically and mentally healthy.
There are several potential ways of combatting stress and maximising your sense of well-being.
One option is to take L-theanine, a nootropic molecule found mainly in green tea. L-theanine (available in larger quantities in the supplement Suntheanine) is thought to increase brain levels of dopamine and serotonin.
Another is S-adenosyl-L-methionine, or SAM-e, a metabolite which also promotes production of these two feel-good hormones.
The plant Mucuna pruriens meanwhile, contains a molecule with multiple benefits : levodopa, a natural precursor of dopamine.
You can also take wild green oat (see Natural Dopamine Support) or PEA, another effective dopamine precursor, available in the supplement PEA and in the blue-green algae Aphanizomenon flos-aquae (AFA Extract), excellent for maintaining a positive mood.
References
Keywords
1 Days
The shipping & delivery is quite efficient to me !
LEUNG Wing Chau
3 Days
Easy to deal with, good website and excellent product
STONEHOUSE Kim
4 Days
Well from my placing order to delivery !!!
DILLON Patrick M
4 Days
Site easy to handle, Information clear and simple, price affordable, quick delivery
Paulo Teixeira
7 Days
Bon service
Keith Ross
8 Days
Excellent product and delivered at a good price
Jim
9 Days
I bought super ashwagandha, super Maca, and adrenal support. Very good products. It helps with thyroid and adrenal gland problems. Fast delivery, happy customer!
LIEBENS Kim
10 Days
Speedy and efficient service (via FedEx).
Barry Humphries
11 Days
The ordered item quite efficiently delivers to me !
LEUNG Wing Chau
12 Days
Just perfect
Leny bermondsey
12 Days
Very good, and very efficient.
Mo
13 Days
Excellent and thrustworthy!
KLAVENES Bjorn
20 Days
I am very happy with the products, they are clean and strong. You get real improvment in health. But your resent change with the desing of packets is stylish but not attractive. Also I wish back the fast delivery.
MU
22 Days
On time,always help full
Isuf Koci
26 Days
Very prompt service. Website easy to use. Delivery quick. Product is worth every penny. Happy customer 👍🏾
Sheba Kelleher