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Tag Archives: oxytocin

How does soaking in a steamy bath scented with rose, vanilla, jasmine, or lavender essential oils sound?

09 Wednesday Dec 2020

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Connie Sellecca, conniesellecca, intelligence for your life, intelligenceforyourlife, jasmine oil, lavender oil, oxytocin, relax, relaxing, rose oil, serotonin, soaking, soaking in bath, steamy bath, vanilla oil

Like heaven, right? Well, doing that will raise blood levels of the feel-good and calming neurotransmitters oxytocin and serotonin… for SIX HOURS afterward! That’s according to research from Brown University. And because the bath itself soothes your brain’s anxiety center – it needs less of that surge of oxytocin and serotonin. So more of those feel-good chemicals will be used to relax the cells in the rest of your body.

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When’s the last time you smiled at your dog?

11 Wednesday Nov 2020

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bond, Connie Sellecca, conniesellecca, feel-good hormone, happy dog, intelligence for your life, intelligenceforyourlife, laugh, oxytocin, smile, smile at your dog, trust

Well, they love your smile! Researchers from the University of Helsinki say it gives your dog an extra shot of the feel-good hormone oxytocin. And that not only makes your dog happier – it makes them trust you more! And when you and your dog are both pumping out oxytocin, it increases your bond so you feel closer. So, go ahead and smile and laugh with your dog. They can read your happy expression and it makes them happy, too.

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Need another reason to cuddle your partner, and be more affectionate?

30 Thursday Jul 2020

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affection, be happy, boost happiness, Connie Sellecca, conniesellecca, cuddle, happiness, hold hands, holding hands, intelligence for your life, intelligenceforyourlife, love, oxytocin, relationship

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It’ll make you BOTH happier. That’s according to a new study from the University of Toronto. The researchers found couples that spend time hugging, holding hands, and touching each other lovingly are MUCH happier in their relationships and in life. The reason? Because physical contact triggers production of feel-good chemicals, especially the bonding hormone oxytocin, which makes couples feel closer, and has been shown in numerous studies to boost happiness.

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Recharge yourself in 60-seconds!

06 Wednesday May 2020

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60-seconds, boost happiness, childhood memories, Connie Sellecca, conniesellecca, happiness, happy, happy feeling, happy memories, instagram, intelligence for your life, intelligenceforyourlife, oxytocin, Throwback Thursday

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Posting a picture for Throwback Thursday can do more than get you some “likes” on Instagram. It can boost happiness and help relieve work burnout! According to psychologist Dr. Scott Haltzman, looking at a fun picture of yourself as a kid can re-energize you in as little as 60-seconds! That’s because reflecting on happy childhood memories kick-starts the production of happy brain chemicals, like oxytocin – which produces a feeling of alert calmness. So any time you’re feeling run down and frazzled, scroll through your gallery of Throwback Thursday pictures for a pick-me-up.

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Does your dog look you in the eye?

30 Thursday Apr 2020

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bonding hormone, Canine Cognition Center, Connie Sellecca, conniesellecca, dog, dogs, Duke University, eye contact, I love my dog, intelligence for your life, intelligenceforyourlife, love, love your dog, oxytocin

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That’s love. Dr. Brian Hare founded the Canine Cognition Center at Duke University – and he says, when your dog gives you eye contact, she’s quote, “hugging you with her eyes.” Because it triggers the release of the bonding hormone oxytocin – the same hormone that helps mothers and babies bond. If you want to test this out, try to naturally maintain eye contact when you’re interacting with your dog and see how she responds. But only do this with your own dog. A strange dog may consider eye contact aggressive.

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Feel happier by holding hands!

07 Tuesday Apr 2020

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calm, calming, Connie Sellecca, conniesellecca, feel happier, hold hands, holding hands, intelligence for your life, intelligenceforyourlife, love, lower blood pressure, lower heart rate, oxytocin, skin to skin contact

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There’s a scientific reason you hold your partner’s hand to express love, or your child’s hand when they’re scared: Because skin-to-skin contact produces the bonding hormone oxytocin. Psychologists at DePauw University say skin contact also causes a calming drop in blood pressure and heart rate in BOTH of you. So, next time you need to feel calmer or happier or think a loved one does, grab their hand and give it a squeeze.

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Which is better for our health: Dogs or cats?

03 Monday Dec 2018

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allergies, cat lover, cats, Colorado, Connie Sellecca, conniesellecca, dog lover, dogs, go for a walk, intelligence for your life, intelligenceforyourlife, oxytocin, pet a cat, pet a dog, pets, play

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Sorry, cat-people, but DOGS win! Dr. Lori Kogan, clinical science professor at Colorado State, says dogs need to be walked, making us more physically active. Walking our dogs also means meeting other dog owners, or dog-lovers that just want to say “hi,” which triggers production of feel-good hormones. Plus: Growing up with a dog lowers a person’s risk of allergies and asthma. But before cat lovers get their claws out, ALL pets improve our health. Because they provide stress relief and a mood-boosting dose of oxytocin every time we snuggle, play with, or even just look at them.

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The importance of a high five at work!

17 Tuesday Jul 2018

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Berkeley, Connie Sellecca, conniesellecca, cortisol, coworkers, high 5, high five, intelligence for your life, intelligenceforyourlife, job, morale, oxytocin, productivity, reduce stress, stress, trust, work

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Wanna lift the morale at work – and improve your own mood? High five your coworkers. High fives release the trust hormone oxytocin and reduce the stress hormone cortisol. Experts from UC Berkeley say high fives promote bonding among coworkers, and increase trust and productivity.

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Look into those big puppy-dog-eyes!

25 Tuesday Jul 2017

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bonding hormone, Connie Sellecca, conniesellecca, dog, dog eyes, gaze into my eyes, I love my dog, immune system, intelligence for your life, intelligenceforyourlife, my dog, oxytocin, puppy dog eyes, risk of heart disease, stress relief, stress-proof, stress-reliever, your dog

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When your dog gives you those giant, brown, puppy-dog-eyes – drink in their gaze. According to the journal Science, looking into your dog’s eyes increases levels of oxytocin – the bonding hormone that makes you feel all squishy and lovey-dovey inside. Those puppy-dog eyes also stress-proof your heart, lowering the risk of heart disease – and improving your immune system. The prescribed dose of puppy-dog eyes is 2 minutes, to get the brain chemical benefits. It makes your levels of oxytocin go up 300%! And your dog gets a boost too. Their levels of oxytocin go up 130%.

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Go ahead – hug someone!

09 Friday Jun 2017

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blood pressure, bonding chemical, Connie Sellecca, conniesellecca, health, healthy, heart disease, heart rate, hug, hugging, intelligence for your life, intelligenceforyourlife, lower blood pressure, lower heart rate, oxytocin, vagus nerve

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Did you know that hugging can keep us healthy? The hug receptors in our skin send signals to the vagus nerve – which lowers our heart rate and blood pressure. Hugging also releases the bonding chemical oxytocin, which has been shown to decrease the risk of heart disease.

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