(09-11-12) Love, romance and travel can be keys to health and longevity

by Tony Isaacs

(NaturalNews) Isn't love grand? Besides being exciting and fulfilling, it also
turns out that it is good for your health and longevity. Studies and experts
agree: having a caring and loving relationship can lead to a healthier, happier
and longer life. Traveling with a partner can make it that much better.

The health benefits of a loving, caring relationship
Experts agree that it takes a happy, calm and stable relationship to yield the
best health benefits and they caution that an unhappy relationship can result
in negative health consequences. When you do have a positive relationship, here
are some of the many benefits according to experts and research:

Stronger immune system

Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University found that people who exhibit
positive emotions are less likely to get sick after exposure to cold or flu
viruses

Faster healing

Ohio State University Medical Center researchers found that blister wounds
healed nearly twice as fast in spouses who interacted warmly toward each other.

Better cardiovascular health

People with stable relationships also tend to have more stable blood pressure.
A study in the Annals of Behavioral Medicine found happily married people had
the best blood pressure, followed by singles. Unhappily married participants
fared the worst.

Less depression and substance abuse

According to a Health and Human Services report, getting married and staying
married reduces depression in both men and women. Marriage also contributes to
a decline in heavy drinking and drug abuse, especially among young adults.

Longer life

A growing body of research indicates that married people live longer. One of
the largest studies found that people who had never been married were 58
percent more likely to die than married people.

Note that though most studies have focused on marriage, other loving and
caring relationships likely have the same benefits - for example, partners,
parents, or friends. "There is solid evidence that people who participate in
satisfying, long-term relationships fare better on a whole variety of health
measures," says Harry Reis, PhD, co-editor of the Encyclopedia of Human
Relationships.

Other benefits of a healthy, caring relationship include:

* Less anxiety
* Better fitness
* Clearer skin
* Natural pain reductions
* Better regulated menstrual cycle

Boost your longevity even further with travel
Travel can help people establish and maintain a healthy lifestyle, says Dr.
David Lipschitz, director of the Center on Aging at the University of Arkansas
for Medical Sciences.

Lipschitz says that the two most important factors for longevity are health
and happiness, and travel helps to foster both. Traveling with a spouse or
significant other is a great way for couples to stay mentally sharp, reconnect
through shared experiences, rekindle romance and increase intimacy.

Love and relationship tips
When looking for love, many miss out due to trying to find the "perfect
partner." As the saying goes, "Perfect love comes not from finding someone
perfect to love, but rather finding how to love someone who is imperfect
perfectly."

Once you have found love and/or companionship, remember that it takes effort
to keep love and relationships strong and fresh. Here are some tips on how to
keep relationships from fading:

1. Be a caring listener who is attentive to your partner's needs.
2. Vary your daily routine and try doing new things - such as new hobbies or
visiting new sights.
4. Small gestures of endearment can reap big returns. For example: a caring
note or card, a handpicked bunch of flowers, making an unexpected dinner with
candlelight, a small, unexpected gift, etc.
5. Always be aware that love is not a one-way street and that a world for two
cannot revolve around just one.

Sources included:

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com
http://www.mnn.com
http://www.tbyil.com/romance.htm

News

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