“It’s that time of year when thoughts and fancies turn to love and I, being no exception, have been preoccupied by love and how to make it last long after the spring tulips have come and gone. Why? Because it turns out that love is really, really good for you. In his book Ultralongevity, Dr. Mark Liponis cites several epidemiological studies that establish a strong link between a loving relationship and a longer, happier life, including a 2004 study that found married people are less likely than unmarried people to smoke, drink, or live a largely sedentary existence. While marriage doesn’t automatically translate into love (sorry married couples!), it turns out that the vows and companionship are only one piece of the puzzle—sexual arousal boosts the number of white blood cells in the body and improves immunity. ” Excerpted from Maine Magazine Profile May 2011
