We live in a time where a focus on health is at the forefront of our lives. We do things like watch our diets, exercise more and try and relieve stress in order that we live healthier and more productive lives. Although there is a lot of effort going on, the results have been mixed and people need to do more to help these efforts along.
With this in mind, here is a suggestions for improving your health. Buy a dog! Dogs add lots of wonderful benefits and feelings to our lives. They become family members, confidants and strong supporters no matter what they challenge. You can play with them, even buy dog costumes online and dress them up.
Dogs can improve your overall heath and here’s how:
Dogs Help You Get Exercise
Perhaps the best but most difficult part of a good health regimen for most people to start and keep is consistent exercise. Good exercise includes everything from team sports, to swimming, to walking and needs to occur on a regular basis to make a healthy difference.
When you own a dog you are committing to an exercises schedule because dogs must be walked every day. They get you off the couch, out of the house and into the fresh air and because it is consistent, it can add greatly to your good health.
The American Heart Association lists getting a dog as a great thing for the heart because it promotes exercise and activity.
Dogs Help You to Reduce Stress
There have been clinical studies that prove that spending time with an animal will increase your oxytocin levels. These hormones increase trust and reduce fear which is a primary cause of stress. There are many strategies for reducing stress including meditation, visualization, the use of soothing herbs and teas, and dozens of others that are effective.
What most of these strategies seek to do is to move your thinking from the stressful issue to ones that promote calm. Dogs are great at doing this. They help you to relax, and take you mind off your current problems. So when you interact with your dog isn’t just pleasant, it’s physiologically beneficial to you.
Dogs Help You Meet People
Are you shy and have a hard time making new friends. Owning a dog is an excellent way to start a conversation. Dog owners love to talk about their dogs and to find out about yours so you should expect to do a lot more talking when you have a dog. There are dog parks where you can take your animal that are filled with other dog owners who also look at this time as a social opportunity to bond with other dog lovers. So you will make more friends when you own a dog.
In addition to all of the great reasons to own a pet, you can also add improving your health as a reason to won one.
