Dogs are often times referred to as human’s best friends. Well, it looks like your fluffy pal may be more beneficial for your health than you may think. It is estimated by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals that 78 million dogs are owned as pets in the United States. Dogs have always been and will always be valued companions with unwavering loyalty, and the willingness to put a smile on their owners’ faces. Have you ever thought about why our dogs make us happy? Or why they help us be less stressed and physically healthier?
How Dogs Keep You In Good Health
There are plenty of studies that suggest that having dogs as pets is associated with better physical health. Researchers at the University of Harvard in Cambridge, MA, actually suggests that dog owners have a lower risk of heart disease. The benefits of better health appears thanks to a series of factors that are related to the lifestyle adjustments you make when you adopt a puppy pal. The biggest lifestyle change is physical activity since there is no way around it. If you are a dog owner, you have to commit to multiple daily walks.Dogs Make People Feel Good
Perhaps one of the best parts of having a canine is the vibes they bring into your home. Sometimes it is hard to cheer up after a long day of work, but when you’re greeted at the door by your fluffy friend, it immediately puts a smile on your face. The reason why you get so happy is because of the “love hormone” oxytocin. When we interact with our dogs, our oxytocin levels rise. Since this is the hormone that is mostly responsible for social bonding, this “love injection” boosts our psychological well-being. Dogs also appear to reduce symptoms of depression and are a great stress reliever. What Clinical Research In Dogs Can Teach Us
Dogs aren’t just incredibly wonderful and loveable friends. Their company also keeps us in physical shape, but also, their health problems have been proven to mirror our own. A study done by MNT reveals that dogs share certain metabolic conditions such as obesity- with their human owners. This means, that the more we learn about dogs’ gut microbiota and how they are affected by diet, it could actually help us understand how to best take on our own eating habits.