Sometimes the best thing we can do for someone in need of support is a hug. Even if you are not a fan of physical touch, you will change your mind when you learn about all the benefits you can get from a single hug. 

Why is it so important?

Touch is the most intimate form of communication and brings benefits in a very natural way. When they are lonely, people realize that something is missing, but they are not aware that it is a simple hug. 

Why are long hugs better for us?

People are used to giving short hugs, but for many reasons you need to start lengthening them. The ideal duration would be 10 seconds, to get the satisfaction expected from a hug. 

Hugs can reduce stress and increase happiness

Hugging produces the "happiness hormone" in other words, oxytocin. The longer we touch or hug the more this hormone is produced. It has also been scientifically proven that the love hormone has anti-stress effects.

You can deal with anxiety and fear more easily

Hugs are very necessary especially for people suffering from anxiety or those who have problems with self-confidence. The results of studies have shown that those who were hugged during an episode of anxiety or fear, reacted better compared to others. 

Affects heart health

An experiment done with 200 people, concluded that hugs positively affect the heart as an organ. The researchers split them into two large groups where the couples in the first group held hands for 10 minutes while watching a romantic video and then hugged for another 20 seconds. The second group saw the same video, but without being touched and hugged during that time. In conclusion, it was the first group to show more stable blood pressure and normal heart rate. 

How many hugs do we need to be healthy and humorous?

4 hugs a day consider it for "survival". 8 hugs a day for mood swings, while 12 for growth. The truth is we have to get as much as we need to get. As long as there is no disadvantage from them, what do you expect?

Source: Bright Side