Hugging is well and truly a universal human behavior. We hug to express an array of emotions whether we’re happy, excited, sad, or just as a means of comfort. For those who love to show affection by hugging, you’re in luck. Scientists have found that it doesn’t just make us feel good, it’s proven to make us healthier and happier.

Oxytocin, also known as the “love hormone”, is associated with bonding, love, trust, and happiness. This happy hormone increases when we hug, touch, or sit close to someone else, causing a reduction in stress and blood pressure. It’s good for everyone—but a recent study has revealed that oxytocin has a stronger effect on women.

In a study at the University of North Carolina, 59 women were recruited to answer a short series of questions about their partner. A sample of the women ended each session with a 20-second hug. Surprisingly, the women who received a hug from their partners had lower heart rates and blood pressure following the stressful section of testing.

The benefits of hugging come from the power of touch. Studies have shown that hugs can help people who suffer from depression, anxiety, stress, and loneliness. Hugging also increases serotonin in the body, a neurotransmitter known as the “feel good” hormone. It is spread by neurons in the brain that helps us feel calm, happy, and confident. When the hormone is absent, it causes us to feel the opposite. Health issues such as depression have been associated with an imbalance in serotonin levels. This happy hormone affects our emotional process, mental health, motor functions, and blood pressure. Many antidepressants are marketed to increase serotonin levels, but a natural way to immediately release serotonin into our body is by hugging. High levels of this hormone significantly increase pleasure, while sadness drops.

Stress can weaken the immune system. The body responds to stressful situations by becoming sick. In a study of 404 healthy adults by researchers from Carnegie Mellon University, the effects on the immune system of receiving hugs was revealed. Tested on their susceptibility to the common cold, it turns out that the people less likely to get sick were the ones who received more hugs and social support.

As you hug someone, you are placing gentle pressure on their sternum. This activates the Solar Plexus Chakra and the thymus gland, which balances the body’s supply of white blood cells that keeps you healthy. As there’s certainly a link between physical touch and a healthy immune system, researchers have concluded that being hugged on a daily basis could be an effective way of reducing stress and illnesses.

Touch is one of the very first senses we pick up, so there’s no question that physical contact is necessary for our well being. The skin is also the body’s largest organ—from the tip of our fingers to our lips, they’re all designed to feel the smallest details and transmit them to the brain through our many nerve endings. According to findings from the Miami Touch Research Institute, babies who received daily massages had an accelerated growth rate of 47% when compared to babies who weren’t given massages.

In many ways, hugging is a form of therapy. It allows us to be present in the moment, focusing on the embrace. A hug can make you feel less alone, deepen your connection with someone, and encourage an understanding of each other in a nonverbal way. And apart from a great way to bond with your loved one, it has a myriad of health benefits. Bottomline: Let’s hug as much as we can to stay healthy.