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 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 the hormone of sociability and attachment is considered as such, it is because it influences trust, empathy, generosity, sexuality, marital and social ties; it promotes protective behavior in the mother towards her child; it stimulates lactation in nursing mothers; it inhibits stress hormones in social interactions, etc.
In addition to this hormone, hugging triggers the release of endorphins (pain-relieving/feel-good hormones), 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 defenses, etc. from a daily injection of the love hormone which provides the same amount 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 serotonin.
Another is S-adenosyl-L-methionine, or SAM-e, a metabolite which also promotes production of these two feel-good hormones.
You can also take wild green oat or PEA, another effective precursor of the happiness hormone, available in the supplement PEA and in the blue-green algae Aphanizomenon flos-aquae (Klamath AFA), excellent for maintaining a positive mood.
References
Keywords
9 Hours
The address correction app put in the incorrect address and I missed it when I hit the accept option. I noticed it when the order was already in route and called customer service to request that they change it to the correct address as the shipper and they were right on top of it. They called me back right away and changed the address. They sent a new email with the tracking information and called me to let me know it was all taken care of. Really happy with the product and customer service.
B Ball
1 Days
Fast service good products.
PERCY
7 Days
GREAT HONEST COMPANY!! FAST SERVICE!
HENDERSON B.
9 Days
EVERYTHING!! NO ISSUES!
DOMINIC
9 Days
The service has been good. However, the telephone and email responses were better before. Most of the products are great. Returns are processed promptly, and I do believe this is an honest and caring company. I plan to continue to buy your products.
DANIEL FORD
13 Days
My order arrived when promised in the condition described
Lisa
22 Days
10/13/24 Y ou were a bit slow to respond, but still helpful.
David Rolston
27 Days
I received wehat I ordered in a tiomely fashion. Great job to the whole staff 👏
Monica P
27 Days
Pomises products that work.Fast shipping. Will recommend to family and friends.
NEW Virginia
28 Days
Excellent product. Timely delivery. Only had one issue over the last few years. Great. Thanks
LEGG Jennifer
31 Days
I trust this company and product as I tolerate the bacillus coagulans very well and feel better overall when I am taking it . Thank you for offerring this product as a company . And thank you for an easy ordering process.
Barbara J
32 Days
Always fast & quick service/delivery. Top products
Brett
34 Days
The peanut sugar free one was very rancid tasting… the nuts were old. Everything else was amazing
MOORE Jennifer
37 Days
I purchase hyaluronic acid from Super Smart because it's the highest Dalton rating I could find. Shipping could be a day or two faster.
Kathy
41 Days
Fast shipping; availability of products.
Paul