Hugging a loved one not only helps you bond with them but also gives you a host of health benefits by lowering blood pressure and even improving memory, according to a new study.
Scientists from the University of Vienna found that the hormone oxytocin releases into the blood stream when you hold a friend close.
However, you have to be selective over who you hug. Giving a polite embrace to someone you don’t know well can have the opposite effect, according to the research, the Daily Mail reported.
Oxytocin, a hormone produced by the pituitary gland, is primarily known for increasing bonding, social behaviour and closeness between parents, children and couples.