In the frenzy of modern life, filled with stress and hyperconnectivity, lowering cortisol levels has become almost an obsession. But there’s another way to feel better and to some extent, foster longevity — one that doesn’t always involve fighting the negative, but rather fostering the positive. It’s not just about defending ourselves – it’s about taking a proactive approach to pleasure and enjoyment that adds wellbeing to our fast-paced lifestyle. This is what nutrition and longevity expert Beatriz Larrea calls “hacking oxytocin.” “It’s a way of saying that we don’t have to wait for oxytocin to appear on its own; we can trigger it. It’s about intentionally creating moments when the body produces it naturally. Oxytocin is the hormone of bonding and calm. It’s released when we feel safe, connected and cared for. ‘Hacking’ it means turning those moments into a daily habit, just as we do with exercise or sleep,” she explains.
Can oxytocin slow down ageing?
Think of that hug from someone you love or an after-dinner gathering without screens and filled with good conversation. Those moments trigger an immediate sense of wellbeing that, in some way, could also affect our biological age—the one that reflects our body’s actual age (which doesn’t always match the date on our ID). We’re not suggesting that simply by cultivating beautiful moments we’ll slow down ageing. As per Dr Carlos López-Otín, an expert on ageing, half of today’s diseases are hereditary and caused by genetic mutations, leaving little room for prevention through positive attitudes. But there are certain biological imbalances in our bodies where positive emotions can help. “Positive emotional factors influence our health and promote healthy longevity through molecular mechanisms that are just beginning to be unraveled,” he said.
Oxytocin and biological age
Regarding how oxytocin influences biological age, Beatriz Larrea explains: “It’s one of the most fascinating and cutting-edge areas of longevity research. In 2025, a study found that, as they age, mice produce less oxytocin and that this decline goes hand in hand with increased inflammation, less efficient mitochondria and changes in the epigenetic marks of neurons. When oxytocin was administered to them for just ten days, many of those changes were reversed. In humans, we don’t yet have a study showing that increasing oxytocin levels rejuvenates the biological clock. What we do know is that people with stronger social ties —family, friends, community and emotional support — age more slowly when we measure their biological age using epigenetic clocks and they have less inflammation,” she explains. And most importantly, as the expert adds, oxytocin is the natural counterbalance to cortisol. “Chronic stress is one of the major accelerators of ageing and oxytocin is the signal that tells the body, ‘You’re safe; you can let your guard down.’ That’s where much of its anti-ageing power lies,”she adds.
7 daily habits to boost oxytocin
Hug more
In addition to how good they feel, there is some scientific evidence regarding the long-term benefits of hugs. “In one study, women who hugged their partners more often had higher oxytocin levels and lower blood pressure. A major meta-analysis published in 2024 in Nature Human Behaviour, which pooled data from more than 200 studies and nearly 13,000 people, confirmed that physical contact reduces pain, anxiety and depression. And it revealed something very practical: frequency matters more than duration. Several brief moments of physical contact throughout the day add up to more than one long one every now and then,” explains Larrea.
