Live better and longer with four-legged friends

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A lot of research has been done on this subject at international level, in American and British universities, in Japan and Germany. All studies have concluded that a big factor for a dog’s fitness effect is walking.

Within the scope of a research conducted by the Health Center of the German Sports University in Cologne (ZfG), 100 walkers with and without dogs aged 40 and over were interviewed during their walks in the park and similar events. It turns out that 98 percent of dog owners go for a walk at least once a day. Of the control group without a dog, 46 percent took a walk only once or twice a week—an average of 31 to 60 minutes or 62 to 120 minutes per week.

Anyone with a dog is weaker

Dog owners walk more than 120 minutes a day. It is obvious that they are more fit and thinner. They are less likely to suffer from cardiovascular disease and even stand up better after a heart attack than people who don’t have dogs.

dogs lower blood pressure

Many dog ​​owners – especially owners – have lower cholesterol levels. But thanks to the cuddling factor, being with the animal is also healthy. Playing calms and lowers blood pressure, the body releases dopamine and serotonin (happy hormones). Bello acts as a beta blocker.

Since dogs help make new contacts (a person with a dog is approached three times more often), dog owners are also more socially active and less lonely, which has a positive effect on the health of older people in particular.

Dogs increase our self-confidence

The so-called “Cinderella effect” has a positive effect on our self-esteem: Dogs judge their owners by appearance, money, social status, etc. They do not judge by classical characteristics. living homeless on the street or living with or without disabilities. This unconditional love is good for our soul – especially if we miss it in interpersonal communication.

Quadrupeds as sedatives

When we pet the dog, it’s good for our psyche: the feel-good and bonding hormone oxytocin is released, and the stress hormone cortisol is reduced. It is calming and even has a lasting effect for dog owners. The cardiovascular system is generally less affected by dog ​​owners in exceptional circumstances – blood pressure and heart rate accelerate less under stress and then calm down more quickly than non-dog owners. Our four-legged friends are therefore sustainable and healthy tranquilizers.

Source : Blick