Attention blood pressure sufferers. Hug someone you know and trust.

It releases oxytocin, an anti-inflammatory that can lower blood pressure and makes you trust the hugged one even more.

But, hugging someone you do not know and trust can have the opposite effect.

Hugger/hugged women also enjoyed a lowering of cortisol.

Reportedly, even hugging yourself has positive effects (good news for loners).







http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/4131508.stm


Other ways to persuade your body to release oxytocin according to one author (I don't recommend reading the entire article.)

http://www.jamesaltucher.com/2012/08/10-unusual-ways-to-release-oxytocin-into-your-life/

Presumably, you don't have to do all of them. I started with the ones I think are easiest.


1. Laugh.

2. Lie down and listen to soothing music. (Maybe whatever music seems soothing to you?)

3. Call a friend. (vocal hug)

4. Use social media to connect in a positive way with someone to whom you used to feel close, but with whom you lost touch

5. Breathe deeply and slowly. As an exercise, for ten minutes each day, sit straight and hold your breath for 8 seconds, breath out for 8 seconds, breathe in for 8 seconds, hold, etc.

6. The author of this article also reomments eating a meal consisting of eggs with pepper and bananas. (He says to mix them altogether. I don't see why you have to make an unappetizing mess, though. And who wants pepper on bananas?)

7. Orgasm

8. Walk in the sunshine, preferably with a friend. (Mama No Elephants adds, but use sunblock and wear sunglasses). Even a cloudy day is good. And walking with someone as you release oxytocin will increase the likelihood of bonding.

9. Show compassion; do charitable or othewise good deeds--random acts of kindness

10. Be trusted by others. (Trusting others does not release oxytocin--unless you hug the person(s) whom you trust.) So, be reliable and trustworthy, I guess.

11. Go into labor (the birthing kind, not the union hall kind)

12. Shoot at a gun gallery, especially with a friend. As the author of this article says. "I don’t know what to tell you. This releases oxytocin also." (Then why are gun nuts so unhappy and nasty?)

Good luck!

when my wife got home from work. And I had a nap with my kitten. But my BP would still be high without the meds. Unfortunately. But I am full of oxytocin. :pals:

:rofl:

Most of the items on the list have more than one physical and psychological benefit.

That I know from reading a lot of other articles.

So, I so encourage you to do as many as you can each day, as you continue your more conventional meds.

(BTW, as great as napping with kitteh sounds, it's not on the list.)

It increases the ocytocin levels many fold.

thanks, I literally did #6 (a meal consisting of eggs with pepper and bananas) as I had a banana, then an hour or so later, I had a half egg and pepper on it! ha... Thanks for the list, you are awesome. :hug:

I don't think I have ever eaten half an egg.

I have never thought of myself as a loving or a kind person.

I suspect that happens only through your generous eyes.

But, you made my day. (And it's only 4:30 a.m., too!)

You might as well just accept that right now. Denial reduces the ocytocin level.

I'm pretty sure no one in my real life sees me that way.

Maybe I am nicer on the 'net?

That would be just like my contrarian self. It's usually the other way around, with anonymity giving people license to be as mean as they wannabe.

There's my different drummer again. Persistent fellow, he is.

it's easy to make someone's day by telling them positive truth.

your gift.

Don't make me stop the car!

being something that is within, not what is necessarily presented is far too deep for 2am... And don't stop the car too quickly, I'll puke! hahaha

:hug: (and ps, I hugged my sibling before bed because said sibling is not feeling too hot this day, and I referenced your hug suggestion!)

When you hug someone, that can feels like a lot longer than it sounds.


Yep the ability to see positive things is at least partly from within.

One study found that babies who were born in warm weather months were more likely to have a positive outlook as adults. They don't know why. They speculated about a possible reason, but I thought the speculation was lame.

Namely, that a baby born in warm weather was likelier to be taken outdoors and run into people who smiled at it, etc. from the jump.

Seemed silly. Most Moms and Dads smile at their babies indoors. Why would some stranger's smile be more meaningful?

And babies who get taken out earlier, whether they are in strollers or car carriers or in those chest or back carriers don't get to see mom or dad's face much while they are out. For them, that is a big deal, I would imagine.

So, I'm sticking with they have no idea why.




If you continue to act up, I have no choice but to jam on the brakes.

You should have known better than to have that half an egg just before getting in the car for a long automobile trip!

Passenger up!

and I had to eat the entire hen to get to it.

I am lucky (In a way) that I have had trouble gaining weight after my illness.