There are a number of biochemical consequences of social interactions—a smile, a hug or a frown, criticism, etc. One of the protective pathways of positive, caring social interactions comes from the Endorphins, our body’s natural “opium”. Endorphins increase pleasure and decrease pain, anxiety and depression. Moreover, endorphins increase nitric oxide, a dilator which increases blood flow and therefore reduces immune over reactivity and inflammation, and THIS leads to less sticky blood which is the real cause of heart disease and many chronic diseases.