Hugging is Good for Your Health

Humans were created to socialize and support each other. God the creator himself stated that it was not good for man to be alone, and remedied Adam's lonely state by creating a wife for him - Eve.

Studies have shown that having good interpersonal relationships which includes touching and hugging has many health effects. Being touched and or hugged within this relationship lowers the stress hormone cortisol, facilitating the release of serotonin and dopamine from the brain. The release of these hormones usually lead to individuals experiencing a feeling of wellbeing.

A study from the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill found that loving contact prior to a difficult day at work was protective against stress throughout the day.

When revisiting stressful events participants in the study who held hands and shared the event with their partners experienced less rise in blood pressure, and less of an increase in heart rate when compared with individuals in the study who had no physical contact with their partners.

Adults are not the only ones who benefit from touch. Infant's are especially responsive to touch.Putting and infant skin-to-skin with its mother enhances the production of breast milk and also breastfeeding. Being skin-to-skin also stabilizes the infant's temperature, breathing and heart rate.

Infants who are considered to be "fussy" are often calmed by being put skin-to-skin with either parent. Skin-to-skin also facilitates cognitive development.