Get Healthy By Getting More Involved With Your Human Family

Many of us included the desire to "get healthy" as one of our New Year's resolutions this year.  When we think about what this entails, we think of eating less processed foods, maybe quitting bad habits like smoking, getting more exercise and things of that nature. We do recognize that many of our lifestyle choices are not the best choices we can make.  We struggle with these and usually our self-esteem suffers as year after year, our resolutions are forgotten as the stress of daily life overwhelms us.

Why do you suppose that all those resolutions and good intentions have not resulted in a healthier population?  Many of the diseases we suffer from are on the rise.  Is it possible that we have overlooked something in our quest for "good health"?  Why is it that the bachelor who practically lives at the gym can be less healthy than the Dad from the suburbs who eats pizza, drinks beer and leads a sedentary lifestyle?

Our Lonely Hearts Are Stressed Hearts

Studies have shown that people who live alone, or who feel isolated from society, can suffer health problems not seen in other groups of people.  An article from The Institute for Genomics and Systems Biology tells us how:

"...epidemiological studies have often found that socially isolated people have shorter life spans and increased risk of a host of health problems, including infections, heart disease, and depression."

The increase in stress hormones resulting from this type of isolation can impact the immune system, result in higher blood pressure and even lead to heart disease.  Perhaps a better resolution would be to sign up for dance classes or other activities where more focus is on the social aspect of the exercise.  Resolving to be less lonely could be as good for you as quitting smoking when it comes to longevity. 

A Loving Family Is Great Health Insurance

A loving family life naturally involves many aspects that lead to better health for all involved.  Eating together, sibling relationships, strong connections to our communities and even a healthy sex life can all greatly enhance our quality of life.  These activities boost our immune systems and give us a stronger sense of purpose and direction.  There is a direct correlation between a stressful family life and a weakened immune system and greater incidence of disease.

This article from the American Psychological Association describes how:

"Chronic stressors associated with health disparities include perceived discrimination, neighborhood stress, daily stress, family stress, acculturative stress, environmental stress and maternal stress."

It is apparent that a rich and rewarding social life and family life can be a factors in better overall health and well-being.  We think resolving to get more involved in our communities and spend more quality time with our families will bring a better return on our emotional investment than getting up at 5AM to jog or depriving ourselves of Starbucks or Twinkies.

Family Game Night is a great way to find quality time to spend with our family…our game selection includes new, award-winning choices as well as those classics we all remember.

(This blog was originally published on 1.26.15)