情人節說出你的愛:表達愛意有利身體健康!

Good news, lovebirds! If you're planning to celebrate with your Valentine in the coming weeks, get ready to toast to your health.

情侶們，好消息來啦！如果已經計劃和另一半共度即將到來的情人節，這要是提升健康的好機會哦。

Earlier this week, a researcher at the Medical University of Vienna spread some good news in honor of National Hug Day. He pointed out that hugging someone you care about can ease stress and anxiety, lower blood pressure and even boost memory.

本週初，維也納醫藥大學的研究者爲紀念全國擁抱日公佈了這個好消息，研究指出擁抱你關心的人能減輕壓力和焦慮，降低血壓甚至提高記憶力。

While the association between hugging and your health isn't new, it's especially relevant this time of year -- with Valentine's Day on the horizon and many couples hurrying to cuddle away the frigid temperatures sweeping across much of the nation.

擁抱和健康之間的聯繫早已不是什麼新聞了，尤其到了每年這個時候——情人節在即，全國範圍內的衆多情侶們也會急於用擁抱來溫暖這個冬天。

Experts believe it all comes back to the hormone oxytocin. A simple embrace seems to increase levels of the "love hormone," which has been linked to social bonding.

專家們認爲這全是荷爾蒙催產素的功勞。簡單的擁抱能提升這種被稱爲“愛的荷爾蒙”的指數，此荷爾蒙與社交也密切相關。

That oxytocin boost seems to have a greater calming effect on women than men, the BBC reported. In one study, the stress-reducing effects of a brief hug in the morning carried throughout a tough work day, USA Today reported.

BBC報道稱，催產素的增加似乎對女性更有鎮靜的效果。今日美國報道稱一項研究顯示清晨的一個簡單擁抱能起到持續一天減壓的效果。

Perhaps the best news of all is that hugging isn't the only way getting close to your Valentine can boost your health. A few others also have big benefits:

當然，擁抱並不是情人節時提高健康的唯一辦法，下面這些同樣也有大好處哦：

Cuddling

摟抱

Call it an extended hug -- cuddling also releases stress-easing oxytocin, which can reduce blood pressure and bond you with your mate. But you may not have guessed that a little cuddle time can help you and your partner communicate better. "Non-verbal communication can be a very powerful way to say to your partner, 'I get you,'" marriage and family therapist David Klow told Shape magazine. "Cuddling is a way of saying, 'I know how you feel.' It allows us to feel known by our partner in ways that words can't convey."

這是擁抱的加長版，同樣能釋放降壓的催產素，能降低血壓同時讓你倆更親密。你絕對想不到稍稍擁抱一會還能促進你倆之間的交流吧。婚姻與家庭臨牀專家David Kolw對Shape雜誌表示：非言語交流也是告訴另一半“我擁有你”的最有力的方式。擁抱也是交流的一種方式，“我能理解你的感受”，這讓我們能感受到另一半身上某些無法用言語表達的東西。

Talking

交談

Speaking of communication -- even just spending time together without touching can put you at ease and lower blood pressure, compared to spending time with someone less significant, according to the BBC. Not to mention that making the effort to communicate openly can only strengthen your relationship.

說到交流，根據BBC的報道，相較於和那些不是很重要的人在一起而言，和伴侶在一起也能讓你感到平靜，即使不相互觸摸也能降低血壓，而暢所欲言的交談更是可以期待加強感情的效果。

Kissing

親吻

Of course, kissing has also been shown to affect oxytocin and cortisol levels, and, just like hugging and cuddling, can reduce stress. But one of the more surprising pros of puckering up is a cleaner kisser. The increase in saliva production that comes along with a smooch can wash bacteria off teeth and help fight plaque buildup.

和擁抱、摟抱一樣，親吻當然也能對催產素和皮質醇指數起到影響，能減輕壓力。但最重要的優點之一還在於能清潔口腔。唾液分泌的增加能清掃牙齒表面的細菌，幫助血小板的形成。

Sex

滾牀單

In addition to relaxing you and burning some calories, some time between the sheets can help you fight off germs. As long as your partner isn't already sick, a couple of sexy escapades a week can boost a particular antibody that fights off colds, according to a 1999 study. Sex may also promote better sleep, thanks to both the relaxing effects of that oxytocin and an increase in a hormone called prolactin, which is normally higher during sleep, according to Women's Health.

除去放鬆和燃燒脂肪，不時的滾滾牀單還能幫你對抗細菌哦。1999年的研究顯示，只要你的伴侶沒有生病，一週幾次的滾牀單能提高一種特定抵抗感冒的抗體。根據《女性健康》雜誌的報道，由於催產素的放鬆效果，以及催乳激素（睡眠時一種指數較高的激素）的增加，滾牀單還能提高睡眠質量。