While many call the hormone oxytocin “the love hormone” due to its effects on enhancing feelings of affection and closeness to other people, we could also call it “the hormone of youthfulness.” Boosting oxytocin blood levels yield effects such as smoother skin with reduced wrinkles, accelerated healing, restoration of youthful muscle and strength, deeper sleep with vivid dreams, and preservation of bone density—all markers of youthfulness.
Increasing oxytocin has, until recently, been problematic, as injectable forms last only 3 minutes, while intranasal delivery lasts only around 90 minutes.
We now know that restoration of the microbe, L. reuteri, sends a signal via the vagus nerve (the so-called “gut-brain axis”) to the hypothalamus to release oxytocin. The result: around-the-clock increase in oxytocin. We have only begun to chart all the magnificent effects of boosting/restoring this hormone.
Listen to my latest Defiant Health podcast episode for further discussion.
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