Life

Science Says These Daily Activities Can Give You The Same Feeling As Being In Love

by Alice Broster
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There is nothing quite like the moment you fall for someone. The butterflies in your tummy, the automatic smile when you see them, the inability to talk about anything but them. It can be a lot. And while all this may feel like such the illogical work of the heart, it is, in fact, the work of the brain. But now Bloom & Wild have conducted a study to reveal what other things can cause the same release of chemicals as love. Because everyone deserves to feel those euphoric feelings this Valentine's Day, whether they're in love or not.

For the study, researchers at London Metropolitan University split their group of 30 volunteers into three smaller groups, each of which received gifts of flowers, chocolate, and water, respectively. The researchers took saliva samples before the gift arrived, 10 minutes after the delivery, and 40 minutes after the delivery. The researchers used the saliva samples to measure volunteers' oxytocin levels. Oxytocin, which is also referred to as the "love hormone", is "produced when people are in a loving, happy relationship and from sex. It also has anti-anxiety and stress reducing effects," Bloom & Wild reports in a statement issued along with the study. They also wrote: "Research suggests that people in the first three stages of love reported higher oxytocin levels that last for around 6-12 months."

The study found that chocolate had the biggest impact when it came to inducing feelings of love. The volunteers who received chocolate showed levels of oxytocin increase by 73.36 pg/ml, while those who received flowers were just behind with an increase of 61.89pg/ml. Water ranked last, with a 50.7 pg/ml increase.

So, it turns out that chocolate, flowers, and even water can make us feel as warm and fuzzy as those first few days of falling in love.

Sara Gordon, VP of Brand & Design at Bloom & Wild, said:

"When it comes to Valentine’s Day, we usually turn to our partners for love and affection. However, as our study reveals, we can create the same feeling in other way."

So, whatever you're doing this Valentines Day, here are a few things that are sure to make you feeling amazing.

1

Chocolate

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Chocolate came out on top as the most euphoric gift in the Bloom & Wild study, and researcher Dr Fairbrother said: "Chocolate induces feelings of wellbeing, including an oxytocin response when eaten, thus anticipation is likely to provoke a similar response."

But I don’t need a professional to tell me that it is true love I feel for chocolate. Hand me the Ferrero Rochers.

2

Flowers

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The Bloom & Wild study will be good news for all the plant mums, as out there treating yourself to a big bouquet of flowers can give you an increase of 62pg/ml in oxytocin.

3

Food

kkgas/Stocksy

The meme "sex is great, but have you ever had garlic bread?" is one of the greatest thing on the internet, and a study form Havas Worldwide proves that it may have some truth in it, too. Havas found that 54 percent of millennial's would say food is just as pleasurable as sex, according to Thrillist, and 35 percent would choose dinner at a knock out restaurant over action between the sheets.

4

Shopping

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I fully wave the flag for treating yourself with a spot of retail therapy, and Kit Yarrow Pd.D explained on Psychology Today why buying things makes us feel so good. She said: "Shopping can be a rich source of mental preparation. As people shop, they’re naturally visualizing how they’ll use the products they’re considering, and in doing so, they’re also visualizing their new life."

5

Booking A Holiday

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Booking a trip away always gives me a euphoric buzz, and a study conducted by Booking.com found that 49 percent of people they surveyed said a holiday brings them more happiness than their wedding day, while 51 percent said they prefer travelling over going on a date with their partner. Those are some serious statistics right there.

6

While receiving gifts is lovely, treating yourself from time to time is also pretty great. So don't forget to look after number one this Valentine’s Day.