4/15/09

All We Need Is Love...


Love is patient. Love is kind. And Love keeps you healthy, happy, and wrinkle-free...


As a romance writer, thinking about attraction and love is second nature. Here are a few true scientific research facts about our sexy world of Love.

Love is like chocolate. Love is a kind of chemical addiction, says Helen Fisher, Ph.D., an anthropologist at Rutgers University. Falling in love activates the pleasure centers of the brain and increases production of the feel-good chemical dopamine. She goes on to say that eating chocolate affects the same brain regions. So that's why it's hard to stop at one piece of chocolate!

Your nose knows he is the one. Did you just know he was the man for you? Thank your sense of smell. Researchers have found that women draw instinctively to the scent of men who are genetically different from them, which is a good thing. What draws you to one guy over another is his pheromones, unique chemical by-products of hormone production.

It is better to be hitched than rich. What makes people happiest? A solid marriage ranks highest on the smile scale. According to a Dartmouth study, having a good marriage is equal to the satisfaction gained from earning an extra $100,000 a year. So you really can be rich in love.

Hugs have a biological benefit. They reduce heart rate, blood pressure and stress hormones; boost the immune systems of the hugger and the one getting the hug.

And my all time favorite:

Love is a wonder drug. No, really -- here's more good news about physical intimacy. During a sensual encounter, your body pumps out 200 percent more endorphins (those feel-good chemicals responsible for a runner's high), according to a recent Johns Hopkins University study. Other research has found that physical intimacy relieves headaches and zaps mild depression instantly. One study even showed it was 10 times more effective than Valium at giving people a calm, contented feeling.

No wonder we like to write about HEA and love, love, love. It makes us feel so darn good!

What about you? Do you agree with the scientists? And do you have anything else to add?

Kaye

15 comments:

Catherine Bybee said...

Wonderful post, Kaye. I completely agree with our scientific minds. "Not tonight, dear, I have a headache." never works in my house because my hubby read a report saying the things you posted. LOL. I would like to have a study on those of us who read romance... ??? hmmm? Makes me wonder.

Kaye Manro said...

Good idea, Catherine! I'd like to see that study too.

Genella deGrey said...

So:

Bedroom + Chocolate = Double the Pleasure?

Wow. Science and math can be fun!

:D
G.

Helen Hardt said...

Oh, Kaye, I can so relate to the nose thing! I'm very in tune with my sense of smell, and my husband smells amazing to me. He always has. And hugs just make you feel better, don't they? I come from a family that isn't very physically affectionate, and my sweet husband introduced me to hugging, too.

So one more vote for the scientists!

Helen

Cari Quinn said...

Love certainly is a wonder drug! It must be or so many of us wouldn't love writing about it so much. ;) Great post, Kaye!

Shelley Munro said...

I have to agree that a good marriage makes for high satisfaction. And, from observation, a lousy marriage is hell.

April Vine said...

Thanks Kaye, great post and I agree with everything!!!
I fell head over nose in love with my husband and still do!

Michelle Styles said...

Lovely post Kaye.

Now that I know where you are, I will look forward to reading your blog.

Linda Banche said...

Those of us who read romance know all this stuff already. But some people need the so-called "scientific" background before they'll believe it.

Christina Phillips said...

I totally agree, a hug can make all the difference when you're feeling down. And I love writing about love because that makes me happy too!!

Suzanne Brandyn Author said...

Great post Kaye,
Perhaps I might have to start liking chocolate. lol

Sarah Simas said...

Thanks for the wonderful insight to love, Kaye! No wonder I have a weakness for chocolate! LOL

I always enjoy reading your posts. You have such interesting tidbits to share. I always manage to learn something stopping by. :o)

Suzanne Ross Jones said...

Thanks for this, Kaye. Another great post.

Alison Kent said...

Can you contact me at akATalisonkent.com about the contest at Joe Konrath's blog? Thanks!

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

It all sounds jolly good to me! Chocolate, gorgeous smelling man, yum.