Love is Good For Your Heart

Those long-term stable relationships might seem rather boring (compared to the flush and flash of new-found love), but it turns out long-term true love is good for your health.

A recent study from Vanderbilt Heart and Muscular Institute looked at the health of people in committed relationships and found they tend to smoke less, exercise more, have less stress, and have a stronger social network outside their relationships.  All things that will help you live a longer, healthier life.

The authors of the study speculate that neuro-hormonal changes occur in our brains that make us more likely to workout, seek friendships, and be less stressed.

Of course that leads us directly to sex.  Does sex play a role in happiness?  Another study, a joint one between researchers at Dartmouth College and the University of Warwick in England, says yes. And you can put a price tag on it.

They estimate that “increasing intercourse from once a month to once a week is equivalent to the amount of happiness generated by getting an additional $50,000 in income for the average American.”

I don’t know about you, but another $50,000 in my bank account would sure take a lot of stress off of me!  Um, honey, come here a second!

The authors of the study noted that having more money, however, does not mean you get more sex.  It seems to only work in one direction.  Sex can increase peace of mind, but money can not increase sex.   Should I suddenly feel bad for Bill Gates?  (Um, no.)

Are you in a long-term committed relationship?  Do you find yourself more active with your body than you used to be?  Do you find yourself interacting with friends more?  Do you have enough sex not to worry about money so much?  I’d love to read your thoughts on this.

Cheers,

Lisa