Hugging a loved one not only helps you bond with them but also gives you a host of health benefits by lowering blood pressure and even improving memory, according to a new study.   Scientists from the University of Vienna found that the hormone oxytocin releases into the blood stream when you hold a friend close.

However, you have to be selective over who you hug. Giving a polite embrace to someone you don’t know well can have the opposite effect, according to the research, the Daily Mail reported.

Oxytocin, a hormone produced by the pituitary gland, is primarily known for increasing bonding, social behaviour and closeness between parents, children and couples.

Increased oxytocin levels have been found, for example, in partners in functional relationships. In women, it is also produced during the childbirth process and during breastfeeding.