Wednesday is National Hug Day

As cheesy as it may be, you body actually benefits from giving and receiving hugs… and there are studies to prove it. Hugging also has a therapeutic effect on people. Dr. Rock says researchers at Carnegie Mellon University found people who experience high levels of social support and frequent hugs may be at a lower risk of getting sick under stress. And a University of North Carolina study found hugs can lower blood pressure and heart rate in premenopausal women. Additional studies find that this simple human gesture can lower the output of the stress hormone cortisol and cause a surge of feel good brain chemicals. So don't be afraid to give someone a hug today!