When looking at what it takes to build optimal health and wellness, pretty much everything is geared toward nutrition, supplementation, and exercise. There is no doubt that a good diet and lifestyle choices are essential for improving health and preventing disease, but there is another critical piece that many people do not focus on and is often forgotten. 

The need for relationships and social interaction with friends or family is one of the basic human necessities. We as humans are designed to thrive off of the interactions with others and this wiring is one of the main reasons civilizations are as advanced as they are today. Without this deep innate desire to form groups and enjoy time with friends and family, we would not be where we are today. 

Not only is social interaction important for advancing society, it also plays a critical role in the prediction of physical health and wellness on an individual basis. Many studies throughout the years have shown a causal link between relationships and health, well-being, and disease risk. Normal healthy relationships have been shown to improve biomarkers of health like C-Reactive Protein (inflammation measure) and blood pressure while lowering risk of disease. Conversely, studies have demonstrated a lack of social interaction may increase the risk of many diseases and lead to vastly increased inflammation in the body (1).

One large study that followed 7514 healthy individuals over many years found that social environment was able to predict the onset for many health outcomes like blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and some metabolic conditions. It found that more positive than negative relationships is a factor that can lower the onset of many of these conditions (2). 

Social interaction and healthy relationships are likely to affect our health in many ways. The elimination of psychological stress through a solid social support network may be a way to decrease chronic stress and ultimately prevent the predilection to inflammatory diseases that is seen in those who are chronically stressed. Another way healthy relationships may benefit our health is through positive emotions that are experienced through relationships. These positive emotions have been shown to increase vagal tone which is a sign that the body becomes more relaxed and ultimately allows for healing to take place (3). 

In a world where we are constantly distracted by the vast amount of information at our fingertips,  it is easy to forget about the significance of quality relationships. Positive social interaction and relationships have been demonstrated to have very impressive benefits for health, well-being, and disease prevention. So when thinking about the things that may ultimately optimize your wellness and longevity, it is important to do your best to include positive healthy relationships and quality social interactions.