Having a Pet May Support Better Health
By Tom Herrin
A lot of us likely had pets when we were growing up. They were always fun, but sometimes they required a little more responsibility than we may have wanted. We always had dogs, and I enjoyed them. Having a pet today is considered to possibly be a way of supporting better health. Even though you may have seen some rather odd characters taking their pets everywhere they went, they may have been doing something to boost health without knowing it. Especially for those of us who may not be into a regular exercise program, having a pet may be a simpler way to make some progress with our health.
Pets May Affect Hormones
A lot of what we do and how we feel is affected by hormones. Cortisol is one that is related to stress. When our bodies are put under stress, we will have more of it. It may help serve as a defense. Too many times, we become emotionally stressed, cortisol levels increase. It is believed that having a pet may help to lower these levels. A good hormone to have is oxytocin. It makes us feel good. Interacting with a pet is thought to increase our levels of this hormone. You may have actually felt this when you have had a pet but not realized just what was happening.
Pets May Help Us to Exercise
Some of us simply have trouble making ourselves get out and exercise. It may be too routine or somewhat monotonous. When we take a pet for walks, we will be getting a little exercise ourselves. Before long, we may begin to enjoy the outing and look forward to it. As we become more motivated, we may also begin to do more. We may eventually find ourselves wanting to run and play with our pet. This is even better as we may move from mild exercise to moderate.
We All Need Companions
It doesn't matter what form, we need to spend time with someone. Even loners need to be needed. It helps us feel more valuable as an individual. Pets need someone to take care of them. They also are generally happy when you come home to them. You can talk to them all you want and never have an argument. For the most part, they can be a pretty simple part of boosting our health.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Red Oak, Tex.