{"id":306,"date":"2018-02-13T07:30:17","date_gmt":"2018-02-13T07:30:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saratoga.com\/healing-health-wellness\/?p=306"},"modified":"2018-02-13T18:46:04","modified_gmt":"2018-02-13T18:46:04","slug":"social-relationships-heart-toxic-isolation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saratoga.com\/healing-health-wellness\/2018\/02\/social-relationships-heart-toxic-isolation\/","title":{"rendered":"Could Isolation or Toxic Relationships Be Harming Your Heart and Health?"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The Healing Power of Connection and the Dangers of Loneliness <\/strong><\/p>\n

Part I: The Power of Healthy Social Connection for Healing<\/strong><\/p>\n

You\u2019ve \u201ccleansed<\/a>\u201d your body of toxins, individualized<\/a> your supplement protocol, overcome orthorexia<\/a> tendencies, fully nourished your body, and hacked your sleep<\/a>. Yet, you still feel lousy.<\/em><\/p>\n

Could it be that the person you\u2019re eating and sleeping with is the cause of your heart and health problems, more than those cravings for cupcakes? <\/em><\/p>\n

In my recent series to celebrate American Heart Month, I\u2019ve discussed several of the mysteries of the heart<\/a>. My goal for this \u201cMonth of Love\u201d is to broaden the viewpoint on what comprises true cardiovascular health. Our current approach is not making a dent<\/a> to this number one cause of mortality in the United States.<\/p>\n

Why?<\/p>\n

One integrative approach that I explored was the HeartMath Institute\u2019s philosophy<\/a>. These researchers broadened the concept of factors linked to heart function by observing this lovely organ\u2019s connection to the brain. What they found was that the head-heart link was scientific! Their game-changing research on the synchronization of physical, emotional, and mental systems (coherence), as measured by heart rate variability<\/a> (HRV), \u00a0has now been demonstrated to enhance stress resilience, promote overall well-being, support emotional balance, and lead to less reactive responses to perceived tension in social situations.<\/p>\n

If you want to experience it for yourself, try<\/a> the two HeartMath Institute techniques I provided, with a combination of essential oils, on my homepage. These will assist you with a \u201creboot\u201d between your brain and heart. \u00a0This \u201ccalming outflow\u201d opens the door<\/a> for greater harmony in relationships, optimization of performance, and overall health.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s a Valentine\u2019s Day present for you and your loved ones!<\/p>\n

Speaking of this day of February the 14th<\/sup>\u2026<\/p>\n

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Is Your Valentine Helping or Hurting Your Heart?<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Although many may still debate the meaning of this day in history<\/a>,\u00a0 it is now a cultural norm to express our affections to our loved ones, mostly in the currency of chocolate and greeting cards.<\/p>\n

Regardless of the gifts you get, or don\u2019t get, how you feel about the giver may be more important for your long-term relationship than a guilty hand-to-the-forward-I-forget slap.<\/strong><\/p>\n

That\u2019s the gem you can take from this article and stop reading now, if you\u2019re pressed for time or don\u2019t want the science.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Keeping with the theme of the mysteries of the heart this month:<\/p>\n