The Heart Healing Power of Love

Anyone who has ever experienced the grandeur and rush of falling in love will understand the energizing and curative properties that true love has. It puts a bounce in your step and a seemingly endless smile on your face. rnFor me, the sight of my husband still fills my heart with peace and warmth, regardless that we spend much of our time working together, writing books together, and pursuing most of our recreational activities together. If you believe that two people can truly be soulmates, we’ve found it. Just one of his smiles or embraces can melt away the stress and tension of a day and invigorate me almost instantaneously. Not bad after twelve years together! rnCall me a hopeless romantic if you will, but I believe love truly makes the world go ‘round. In fact, if you asked me, I would tell you that most of the world’s ills are caused from a lack of love, either toward another person or internally, toward oneself. rnSome of the world’s leading mind-body researchers and physicians have been discovering the intrinsic link between a lack of love and illness. In his book, Love and Survival, Dr. Ornish says, “I am not aware of any other factor in medicine that has a greater impact on our survival than the healing power of love and intimacy. Not diet, not smoking, not exercise, not stress, not genetics, not drugs, not surgery.” rnIn a study of heart disease patients who were unmarried or had no significant confidant in their lives, there was a 300 percent increase in mortality compared to those who had a spouse or close friend to turn to for support. Now, that doesn’t mean that if you live alone you’ll be stricken with heart disease, nor does it mean that if you are married, your heart is safe. It does prove the power of close relationships and love between people, whether those people are spouses, partners, friends, family, or confidantes. rnIt also doesn’t mean that you can eat whatever you want and forget about exercising. Love has the strongest curative properties when it counts healthy eating and fitness as its allies. And, let's face it, having some self-love means taking care of your body too. rnStep aside gravity, electromagetism, and nuclear energy, love is the most powerful force in the universe. It is such an incredibly important part of being human that there are probably as many definitions of love as there are people. rnSome would say it is a feeling or emotion, others a commitment or devotion. I say it is everything. Whether it is between two people or about learning to love oneself, love has the power to transform ugliness into the purest essence of beauty. It also has the power to recharge, revitalize, and transform people into better versions of themselves. It is the true alchemy. Michelle Schoffro Cook, DNM, DAc, CNC is a best-selling and six-time book author, whose works include: The Life Force Diet, The Ultimate pH Solution, The 4-Week Ultimate Body Detox Plan, The Brain Wash, and Healing Injuries the Natural Way. She is a doctor of natural medicine, doctor of acupuncture, holistic nutritionist, and energy medicine practitioner. Her work has been featured in/on: Woman's World, First for Women, Dr. Roizen's YOU: The Owner's Manual Radio Show, Gaiam Life, Yahoo! Shine, and The Huffington Post. www.TheLifeForceDiet.com.