New York – Study: Gossip is Good For Your Health

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    Gossiping may be just what the doctor ordered because it increases progesterone, a hormone that reduces anxiety and stress and makes women happier, according to an article in the London Daily Mail.

    The new research, at the University of Michigan, paired up 160 female students.

    Half were instructed to ask each other questions meant to bring them closer together, while the rest worked in pairs on a joint activity that consisted of proofreading a botany paper.

    “Half the girls exchanged intimate details of their lives,” explains Stephanie Brown, psychologist and a professor of internal medicine at the University of Michigan, who led the research. “We wanted to see whether becoming close with another person would release the hormone progesterone, which we know is related to long term physical health and has anti-stress effects.”

    After 20 minutes, the girls who had asked each other “chatty” questions were found to have increased or steady progesterone levels, while the progesterone levels of the girls who’d worked on the botany project declined, Brown explains.

    “We know that people who are in close relationships live longer and are healthier than those who are socially isolated,” says Brown. “The mystery is how do these social connections work? It might have to do with progesterone.”

    Progesterone has a reputation for being a “feel good” hormone that helps promote good sleep and increases bone density, says Dr. Steven Y. Park, clinical assistant professor of otolaryngology at New York Medical College.

    But that doesn’t mean you should start popping progesterone pills.

    “You need it in the right doses,” he says. “And it has to be in the right balance as estrogen in the body.

    Many women have fatigue issues because stress lowers progesterone and can turn it into a stress hormone.”

    Progesterone is a calming hormone that can increase one’s sense of well being, says Dr. Kent Holtorf, medical director of the Holtorf Medical Group, which specializes in women’s health.

    For this reason, it’s often given to women who are suffering PMS. He does not recommend self medicating, however.

    To bump up your natural progesterone production, you might invite some friends over for a good gossip fest.

    “What this University of Michigan study shows is that you should engage in activities that are bonding emotionally,” Park says.

    Another way of extending longevity, notes Brown, is to help other people.

    “The act of benefiting another person is a way to predict longevity,” she says. “It suggests that altruism is beneficial for health, whether volunteering, caregiving or making sacrifices for others.”


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    19 Comments
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    yenta
    yenta
    14 years ago

    I should live forever, then.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    Nebbach, all those “shmiras halashon” do-gooders have ruined it for the rest of us!

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    i’ll take the chofetz chaim over the iniversity of michigan anyday

    Oy Vey!
    Oy Vey!
    14 years ago

    You can call it progesterone or by it’s real name ‘yetzer hora’ ‘Mi hoish hechofets chaim…..Netzor leshonchu meiru’

    Tanna Kamma
    Tanna Kamma
    14 years ago

    seems they misinterpreted the verse “life & death is in the power of the tongue”…

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    It is possible to speak to a friend without resorting to lashon hora.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    The study shows that devloping close relationships is what increases life. It is a sad commentary on society if the preferred way to develop relationships is by gossiping, which means putting others down.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    “small people talk about other people smart people talk about ideas” its a simple fact the more educated a person is the less he will gossip. gossip is a natural result of low self esteem. (I feel low I belittle others, so I am more. get it? ) and the less educated, the less self esteem. this is true as day and night

    Yoelish
    Yoelish
    14 years ago

    A point well taken.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    I looked up this researcher’s info. She’s really a wacko what she writes about: that morality is evolutionary, men really want to be subordinate to women, etc. I think she does has mishagana ideas, comes up with polls and focus groups to support her inventions, and calls it scientific research.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    why would they write this

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    seems from the article that the ‘gossip’ referred to is not loshon hara; slander would be the more appropriate term for l”h, but this gossip seems to be just women chatting, not necessarily about others.

    shoshana
    shoshana
    14 years ago

    No wonder why woman live longer than men. Now we know our secret!