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?
Lower levels could stop uterine contractions or prevent breastmilk production. A rare condition is para-hypo-pituitarism (all levels of hormones produced by pituitary gland are low).
Some studies have linked autism and autistic spectrum disorders like Asperger’s to low oxytocin levels and depressive symptoms. But research is ongoing with that.
How Does Oxytocin Help with Mental and Emotional Health
It has a calming effect and can help lower stress as I noted before with lowering blood pressure and cortisol levels which helps increase relaxation, trust, and stability. This can help decrease depression and anxiety.
What About Physical Health
Too much stress and too little oxytocin can cause our body to go into the fight or flight nervous system mode, the sympathetic nervous system. 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.
Is Oxytocin Applicable in Any Type of Love?
Now 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 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 a connected and social beings.
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?
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. But it actually could be due to a chemical factor like low oxytocin or one of the other feel-good hormones.
So What are Natural Ways to Boost Oxytocin?
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 hopefully your doctor will check 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.
Eat foods that promote oxytocin production like eggs, bananas, salmon, nuts, beans, and legumes.
Doing things with a friend like eating dinner or meeting for coffee to talk is beneficial.
Spending time with your spouse or children.
Touching someone – hugs, back rub, getting a massage, cuddling, romance with your spouse
Petting your dog or another pet improves oxytocin levels.
Exercise boosts oxytocin production.
Music – listening to music improves mood and focus and usually joy and singing with others adds bonding or the social element.
Communicating with others and telling them how much you care is beneficial.
Doing something nice for another person actually helps us feel better, too.
Making connections by joining a club or organization, helping others, joining a Bible study or group at church helps boost oxytocin levels.
Although there is current research on an oxytocin pill or spray, the results have been disappointing. So the best ways to increase oxytocin are connections with others, creating meaningful and intimate relationships. So make time today to pick one of these steps to help your oxytocin levels.
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 issues, as well as thyroid and autoimmune problems. 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
