THE MOST ORIGINAL, HUGGABLE HERO OF ALL
SHARES THE 10 BENEFITS OF HUGGING!
1) Hugs make us feel “happy”! When we
hug another person, our bodies release oxytocin, a hormone associated with
“happiness,” according to scientific studies. [1]
2) Hugs alleviate stress! Just as a good
hug increases our oxytocin levels, it decreases our cortisol or “stress”
levels. [2]
3) Babies need hugs as much as water
and food! According to researchers at Harvard University, hugs help promote normal
levels of cortisol necessary for child development. [3]
4) Hugs make us better students! Students
who receive a supportive touch from a teacher are twice as likely to volunteer
in class. [4]
5) Hugs improve our game! Scientists at
University of California, Berkley discovered that the more affectionate members
of a team are with each other, the more likely they are to win. [4]
6) A hug a day keeps the doctor away! A
hug stimulates the thymus gland, which in turn regulates the production of
white blood cells that keep us healthy and disease-free. [5]
7) A hug stops the bug! Researchers at
Carnegie Mellon proved that individuals who were sick and received hugs had
less severe symptoms and were able to get better quicker. [6]
8) A hugging heart is a healthy heart! Research
from University of North Carolina showed that a good hug helps ease blood flow
and lower cortisol levels, which in turn help lower our heart rates. [7]
9) A hugging couple is a happy couple!
Couples that experience their partners’ love through physical affection share
higher oxytocin levels. [8]
10) Hugs let someone know you care
without having to say a word! According to Dacher Keltner, professor of
psychology at University of California, Berkeley, we can identify love from
simple human touch –
imagine how much love a big hug can communicate! [9]
BURBANK, CA,
January 21, 2015 – After much deliberation and even more hugging, Baymax, the
lovable personal companion robot
and star of Walt Disney Animation Studio’s action-packed comedy adventure and
Academy Award® Nominated film “Big Hero 6,” was today named Most Huggable
Character of 2015 on National Hugging Day™!
The coveted award was presented by
the Ambassador of Hugs, Kevin Zaborney, founder and creator of National Hugging
Day.™ Baymax humbly accepted the award from his residence in San Fransokyo
where he attributed the honor to his “non-threatening, huggable design” and said
he looks forward to spending the upcoming year giving and receiving hugs from
all.
The Most Huggable Character Award coincides
with this month’s National Hugging Day™ held annually on January 21. National
Hugging Day™ was created to encourage people around the world show more
affection in public. There is only one way you are supposed to celebrate the
holiday: offer a hug to anyone and everyone you want.
Past
winners of the Most Huggable Awards have included Joan Rivers who wrote
after receiving her award, "I'm tempted to start saying 'Can we hug?'
instead of 'Can we talk'" alluding to her participating in a telephone
company ad; Jeff Ondash (aka Teddy McHuggins); Tessla Queen (bingtopia.com);
and Mata Amritanandamayi (Kerela, India known as the "Hugging
Saint").
Disney’s “Big Hero 6” will be
available nationwide on Digital HD and Disney Movies Anywhere February 3 and on
Blu-ray™ Combo Pack February 24. For more
information, visit http://movies.disney.com/big-hero-6.
