Oct 16, 2006

Marriage is Good for Your Health

In her radio spot this morning, "A Minute with The New York Times," health columnist Jane Brody reported the results of an eight-year study on the impact of marriage on physical health.

According to this study, which lasted from 1989 to 1997, married people have a much greater life expectancy than single, divorced, or separated people. The conclusion: not only is a good marriage essential for your mental and emotional health, as we've already known, it's good for your physical health as well.

I spend time walking on the track. I lift weights at the gym twice a week. I take vitamins (when I remember). I'm trying to eat more foods rich in whole grains--whole wheat pasta, brown rice, oats. I have two bushels of fresh-picked apples in my kitchen and I'm eating one or two apples a day. I'm also trying to make sure my body gets enough sleep.

But at the top of this "health" list, I can put the time I spend talking and doing things with my husband Dale. All the things we do to build our marriage relationship not only make natural life longer (according to The New York Times), but as every happily married couple knows, those things make life better as well.

Good health to you.