Aging Backwards Tuesday Tips #62: Looking For Love

Back when I was young, we were taught to be very coy with members of the opposite sex - you never, ever told a boy/man you "liked them." New research reveals that telling someone "I really like you," could make him or her find you more attractive. According to Aberdeen University psychologist Dr. Ben Jones, making eye contact and smiling has a similar effect. Here are some Aging Backwards stats about couples:

1) According to MayoClinic.com, people who are happily married live longer than their single counterparts. Some experts believe that one reason is stress reduction. It's widely reported that stress can have detrimental effects on an individual's health. Cardiovascular, hormonal and immune pathways are important to a person's well-being and stress can have a negative effect on these systems. It's being part of a "team" that makes married people better equipped to handle stress than single people. Pooling their incomes also helps married couples reduce their stress. Two people can live more cheaply than a single person by sharing housing costs, groceries and other household expenses.

2) Studies show that married adults, particularly men, weigh more and have higher rates of obesity than single adults. People who have never married are the least likely to be obese, according to research. Obesity can lead to type II diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure.

3) A new study shows that being single at middle age could increase your risk of dementia. Oh great, that's just about everyone I know, me included! Swedish researchers, presenting at a U.S. conference, found that being married or having a partner cut the risk of developing demential in half. Scientists believe that social interaction between couples may ward off illness.

4) Here's a fast stat from Levine Breaking News Alert: "Getting married cuts a man's weekly housework by about one hour, but increases a woman's by seven."

5) Women sleep less soundly when they share a bed with a romantic partner while men actually sleep better when they snuggle up next to a woman, according to research. A man's snoring is one obvious detriment to a woman's beauty rest, but it's not the only one. According to the researchers, women tend to be lighter sleepers in general, perhaps because they are the ones, historically, who take care of infants. Psychologist Wendy Troxel, a researcher at the University of Pittsburgh, explained that another reason why men sleep better with a woman beside them is because studies show that men are very dependent on close relationships.

So, if you're married, maybe today would be a great day to tell your loved one how grateful you are to have them in your life.