社會關系，尤其是以食物為主，對身體和靈魂都有好處

社會關系，尤其是以食物為主，對身體和靈魂都有好處

Do you dread holiday dinners with extended family members, neighborhood block parties or even a potluck at your workplace? You may want to work on that. A new study published in the Annual Review of Psychology journal explores why social relationships are important not just for our emotional health, but for our physical health, too.

你是否害怕與大家庭成員共進節日晚餐，害怕鄰居的街區聚會，甚至害怕工作場所的聚餐?你可能想在這方面努力。發表在《心理學雜志年度評論》上的一項新研究探討了為什么社會關系不僅對我們的情感健康很重要，而且對我們的身體健康也很重要。

While you don't necessarily need alcohol to boost your endorphins over a meal, it certainly doesn't hurt. (Photo: Rawpixel.com/Shutterstock)

“Our social connections to others have powerful influences on health and longevity,” writes Julianne Holt-Lunstad, a professor of psychology at Brigham Young University, and lead author of the study.

楊百翰大學心理學教授、該研究的主要作者朱莉安•霍爾特-倫斯塔德寫道:“我們與他人的社會聯系對健康和壽命有著強大的影響。”

She explains that not only do close friends and family make you healthier, but a lack of relationships can actually be a risk factor for premature mortality — as much a risk factor as obesity. Additionally, the study suggests that social connections should be considered as essential factors in the public health domain.

她解釋說，不僅親密的朋友和家人會讓你更健康，缺乏人際關系實際上也可能是導致過早死亡的一個風險因素，其風險程度不亞于肥胖。此外，本研究建議社會關系應被視為公共衛生領域的基本因素。

Bonding over food (and drink)

在食物(和飲料)上建立聯系

Hanging out with Grandma could make both of you live longer, happier lives. (Photo: Elzbieta Sekowska/Shutterstock)

Previous studies have revealed what a powerful effect eating alone has on our mood. Second only to mental illness, consistently eating alone can make you deeply unhappy.

之前的研究已經揭示了獨自進食對我們情緒的強大影響。僅次于精神疾病，持續獨自進食會讓你非常不開心。

But it doesn't necessarily matter what or where you're eating; just the act of breaking bread with others facilitates these crucial social bonds. Embrace the idea of "scruffy hospitality," where you stop worrying about the cleanliness of your house or what fancy French feast you need to prepare, and instead focus on the good conversation and conviviality company brings.

但吃什么或在哪里并不重要;僅僅是與他人分享面包的行為就促進了這些至關重要的社會紐帶。擁抱“邋遢的待客之道”，不要再擔心家里是否干凈，也不要再擔心需要準備什么樣的法國大餐了，相反，你應該把精力放在與客人的愉快交談上。

Out of the list — alcohol, laughter, singing, dancing and storytelling, plus chocolate (representing food) — people chose laughter, stories and alcohol. Dunbar explains that alcohol “seems to be one of the best triggers humans have ever found of the endorphin system.”

在酒精、笑聲、唱歌、跳舞和講故事，還有巧克力(代表食物)之中，人們選擇了笑聲、故事和酒精。鄧巴解釋說，酒精“似乎是人類發現的內啡肽系統的最佳誘因之一。”

Tackling the dinner table

收拾餐桌

These moments of connection don't have to happen over the dinner table; they can happen before, cooking in the kitchen, or after, while cleaning up and doing the dishes. (Photo: Elzbieta Sekowska/Shutterstock)

Once you finally have everyone gathered at the dinner table, should you stick to small talk or explore more in-depth topics? It depends on your intention. Priya Parker, author of “The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters,” tells The New York Times that “...if the purpose this year is generosity, invite everybody. Bring somebody who doesn’t have a place to celebrate into your Thanksgiving this year. And then meaningfully connect them in the room.”

當你終于讓所有人都聚在餐桌前，你應該繼續閑聊還是探索更深入的話題?這取決于你的意圖?！毒蹠乃囆g:我們如何相遇以及為什么它如此重要》的作者普里亞·帕克告訴《紐約時報》，“……如果今年的目的是慷慨，請大家來參加。今年帶一個沒有地方慶祝的人來過感恩節吧。然后在房間里把他們有意義地聯系起來。”

Consider adding a ritual to enhance your dining experience. Whether it's a simple lighting of the candles or putting on a playlist, these simple gestures can make a meal feel more meaningful. At the same time, family needs change every year, so be open to altering the routine or welcoming new friends into the fold.

考慮增加一個儀式來增強你的用餐體驗。無論是點上幾根蠟燭，還是播放音樂，這些簡單的動作都能讓你覺得這頓飯更有意義。與此同時，家庭每年都需要改變，所以你可以改變常規，或者歡迎新朋友的加入。

Adds Parker, “Each of these acts and activities are an excuse to think about how we begin to stitch or restitch the family or group of friends or whomever together."

帕克補充道:“每一次這樣的行為和活動都是一個借口，讓我們思考如何開始將家人、朋友或其他人縫合或修補在一起。”