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Valentine’s Day 2025: Boosting oxytocin, the ‘love hormone’, enhances romance and bonding. Foods like dark chocolate, almonds, walnuts, and honey help release oxytocin, deepening love
Harvard Health recommends natural methods rather than medications to boost oxytocin. (News18)
With Valentine’s Day 2025 approaching, love is in the air, and possibly, in your brain. The pituitary gland in the brain produces many hormones, including oxytocin, often called the ‘love hormone’, which is released when you fall in love. As oxytocin levels increase, mood improves, fostering desire, trust, and respect for the person. Therefore, to embark on a new romance, first, increase this ‘love hormone’ in your system to take a beautiful dive into the sea of romance with your beloved.
How Does Oxytocin Work?
According to Harvard Health, oxytocin release can reduce stress and anxiety, improve mood and promote positive emotions. These factors enhance trust in your partner, encouraging you towards a strong, loving relationship.
While medications for increasing the love hormone exist, Harvard Health suggests they are largely ineffective. Therefore, natural methods are recommended.
How To Increase The ‘Love Hormone’?
- Dark Chocolate: Consuming oxytocin-boosting foods like dark chocolate is a great start. Chocolate contains flavonoids and caffeine, increasing happiness and enthusiasm. These components elevate endorphin and serotonin levels in the brain, consequently increasing oxytocin and generating feelings of love and attachment.
- Almonds: Rich in vitamin E and monounsaturated fatty acids, almonds contribute to increased oxytocin levels in the brain. This boosts mood and fosters warmth in relationships.
- Walnuts: Omega-3 fatty acids, abundant in walnuts, activate brain function, promoting emotional bonding and strengthening feelings of love.
- Honey: Natural glucose and antioxidants in honey increase energy and help elevate oxytocin levels. This balances physical and mental states, fostering feelings of love and romance. Similar to these foods, avocado and watermelon can also contribute to increased oxytocin.
Other Ways To Increase ‘Love Hormone’
A 2012 study by Harvard Health revealed that yoga can increase oxytocin. Additionally, body massage offers significant benefits. Research indicates that a 15-minute massage releases a substantial amount of oxytocin.
Similarly, hugging loved ones releases oxytocin, deepening love. Engaging in acts of kindness and experiencing joy from helping others also triggers oxytocin production. Therefore, charitable work can be another avenue for increasing love hormones.
