January 21 is Hugging Day. International Hugging Day is an annual holiday created by Rev. Kevin Zaborney to encourage openness and showing of affection.

Studies have shown that human contact has many health benefits. It stimulates the thymus gland, which regulates and balances the body’s production of white blood cells, which keep you healthy and disease free.

Hugging helps build a good immune system, increases the level of oxytocin and decreases the risk of heart disease. Guess what? Love is the miracle drug.

The National Hugging Day website publishes the Year’s most Huggable. This was one of the winners.