In light of Valentine’s Day and the topic of love, do you remembers years ago in 1984 there was a hit song by Tina Turner called What’s Love Got to Do with It? Maybe you’ve heard it. The meaning of the lyrics is sad since in the song the woman was hurt in a relationship and doesn’t really want a true relationship anymore – just the physical act of intimacy. No real emotional connection.
But just one year later in 1985 another song came out by Huey Lewis and the News called The Power of Love. In fact, this was the band’s most popular song. It’s definitely a more optimistic song – talking about not just the highlights of love, but also that even though sometimes it’s tough, love is so powerful and worth it.
So How Does Love Relate to Your Health?
Did you know when you love or care for someone, your oxytocin levels increase?
What’s oxytocin? It’s one of the 4 feel-good hormones. Like endorphins or serotonin and dopamine, it promotes pleasurable and positive feelings. You may have heard it called the love hormone.
It is responsible for contractions during labor, helps with milk production during breastfeeding and bonding between mother and infant, and in male and female reproductive systems. And healthcare providers use a synthetic version like Pitocin to induce labor in childbirth if it hasn’t started on its own.
But it also helps create anti-stress like effects including lowering blood pressure and cortisol levels. It increases pain thresholds (so you don’t feel pain as much) and promotes growth and healing.
What Happens if You Have a Low Oxytocin Level? Here are possible signs:
- Irritability and inability to feel affectionate
- Increased feelings of anxiety, depression, and stress
- Increased muscle and joint pain
- Disturbed sleep
- Inability or problems with labor in childbirth
- Low breastmilk production post-partum
- Some studies link it with autism and autism spectrum disorders but research is ongoing
How Does Oxytocin Help with Mental and Emotional Health?
It has a calming effect and can help lower stress by decreasing both blood pressure and cortisol levels. This then helps increase feelings of relaxation, trust, and stability which decreases feelings of depression and anxiety.
What About Physical Health?
When we have too much stress and too little oxytocin, our body will go into the fight or flight nervous system mode, the sympathetic nervous system, more of the time. This can cause elevated blood pressure, heart rate, and cortisol which can raise blood sugar and insulin levels which then can lead to prediabetes, insulin resistance, diabetes type 2, poor gut health, weight gain, poor sleep, cardiovascular problems, overeating, cravings, and binging. Higher levels of oxytocin may help decrease muscle and joint pain due to anti-inflammatory benefits which in turn will help mental and emotional health as well.
Is Oxytocin Applicable in Any Type of Love?
Oxytocin can help romantic love, but that’s not the only type of love it is beneficial for. It can also help in other relationships such as a parent and child love or a platonic friendship love or even love of a pet. We all need to know we are loved and cared by someone else just like we need to love or care for others. God created us as social beings. He knew in order for us to be healthy, we need others.
We all need a love connection.
In fact, God wants us to love and have connections with others because He first loved us and wants that connection with us and then wants us to have connections with others. But He also wants us to care for and love ourselves. We can’t love others if we don’t love ourselves, right? It’s the oxygen mask script flight attendants recite in an airplane. Put on your own oxygen mask first before putting it on someone else. Otherwise, you won’t be able to help them.
And sometimes we beat ourselves up thinking the reason we are down, depressed, or anxious is due to an emotional or spiritual reason which can make us feel guilty and further discouraged. But it actually could be due to a chemical or physiological factor like low oxytocin or one of the other feel-good hormones.
So Here’s the Good News – There are Natural Ways to Boost Oxytocin
Eat anti-inflammatory foods that promote oxytocin production such as eggs, bananas, salmon, Vitamin C packed fruits and veggies (like berries, watermelon, citrus fruits, figs, tomatoes), nuts, figs, avocados, beans, legumes; foods rich in magnesium also are beneficial like dark chocolate (70% or higher in cacao)
Vitamin D – research has found getting enough Vitamin D directly activates and controls oxytocin production. This is another reason to get out in the sunshine. You could also possibly take a supplement but ask your doctor first. And get your doctor or practitioner to run your Vitamin D blood level first, then you’ll know how much Vitamin D to take. You don’t want too much or too little. It’s the Goldilocks principle – just right for you! Note – when taking Vitamin D, be sure yours also includes K2 to help wit absorption
Spending time with your spouse, children, or family – time with others we love, hugging, and cuddling increases our oxytocin levels and our joy
Doing things with a friend – strong friendships make a big difference in emotional and physical well-being; make plans to grab lunch or dinner with a friend, or meet for coffee to talklike eating dinner or meeting for coffee to talk is beneficial.
Touching someone including hugs, back rub, getting or giving a massage, cuddling, romance with your spouse all help increase oxytocin.
Petting your dog or pets and playing with them improves oxytocin levels.
Exercise boosts oxytocin production and other endorphins and feel-good happy hormones.
Music – listening to music improves mood and focus and usually joy (unless the music is dark or too loud), singing with others adds bonding or a social element.
Laughter can increase oxytocin and endorphins which promotes feelings of calmness and connection with others.
Communicating with others and telling them how much you care, expressing your feelings, letting others know you appreciate them helps develop closeness.
Doing something nice for another person – person – kind gestures, behaviors, gifts, or volunteering to help another person
Making connections by joining a club, organization, or a charity group, joining a church, participating in a Bible study or group at church, signing up for a local community class (hobby, exercise, craft, or academic)
Quiet time – daily time to be still helps reduce stress and anxiety; begin your day or make time during another part of the day for just a few minutes to pray, be grateful, read a devotional or the Bible or a book, or do deep breathing exercises; helps increase your compassion for others and develop a more peaceful and joyful attitude
Although there is current research on an oxytocin pill or spray, the results have not been promising. Oral supplementation is destroyed in the gastrointestinal tract. And the spray may help with mood, decreased appetite, and weight control, but the results have disappointing. Some side effects include increased anxiety and depression. So research is ongoing.
So I hope that was helpful in realizing how beneficial love and oxytocin is for your physical, mental, and emotional health. The good news is there are natural ways to increase oxytocin as explained in this blog. One of the easiest ways is to make connections with others and create meaningful and intimate relationships. So make time today to pick one of these strategies I’ve given you to help boost your oxytocin level.
I am a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach and help women over 40 who have fatigue, digestive issues (like bloating, constipation, food sensitivities), brain fog, weight and hormonal issues as well as thyroid and autoimmune conditions. I work with you and as a team, we focus on nutrition and lifestyle factors to help you have more energy, think clearer, and fit into those favorite jeans again. You can do this! You just might need some help from someone who’s been there herself and worked with clients – helping guide, support, and encourage you each step of the way. Contact me here to set up a free strategy session to see how we can work together. — Leah Cheshire, NBC-HWC
