Friends….
It may be obvious to most of you, but I think the following blog is worth putting out there, as a reminder to myself if nothing else!
Recent research have shown that social isolation is on a par with high blood pressure, obesity, lack of exercise or smoking as a risk factor for illness and early death.
People who are chronically lacking in social contacts are more likely to experience elevated levels of stress and inflammation. These, in turn, can undermine the well-being of nearly every bodily system, including the brain.
Absent social interactions, blood flow to vital organs is likely to be reduced and immune function may be undermined. Even how genes are expressed can be adversely affected, impairing the body’s ability to turn off inflammation. Chronic inflammation has been linked to heart disease, arthritis, Type 2 diabetes and even suicide attempts.
Powerful stuff right? So in light of these discoveries, it is imperative that we put down our devices, often, and reach out to friends and family. It’s not enough to eat your veggies and exercise, we have been ignoring one of the most powerful human wellness ingredients in our pursuit of success. Its simple, just make an effort to hang out with your people and focus on them entirely, be silly, listen and help each other.
If you are already ticking all the boxes of living a healthy living, and yet some nagging issues remain, the answer may lie in your connections with others. We lead isolated lives and its not easy to find your tribe, but there are ways. Join a retreat, or a weekly class, or sign-up to Meetup – a great app allowing you to find others with similar interests within your area.
It’s all about finding a balance between healthy living & relationships. You need to pursue both and its also worth mentioning that having a ‘buddy’ on your journey to better health will increase your chance of success 100%.
Thank you for reading, I hope this post has inspired you to go out and connect with your special people, or perhaps take the first step towards finding your ‘tribe’.
In dedication to your radiant health,
Marlien x
