In news that could boost demand for commercial coffee
machines, it has been suggested that a gossip could actually be
good for health.
This is according to a new study, which has revealed a good
chinwag, possibly over a cup of coffee in a cafe, can boost levels
of positive hormones such as serotonin, as well as enhancing social
cohesion and reducing stress, the Daily Telegraph
reports.
The research by a team from Harvard University led by
psychologist Dr Colin Gill found there are health benefits to
bonding over stories about others.
According to the survey, reported in the journal Science, it is
females who most like a gossip, with 85 per cent of women liking to
hearing bits of information.
"Gossiping often involves a lot of laughter, which boosts all
the 'happy' chemicals in our brain and even gives us a little bit
of a muscle work-out, too," Dr Gill explained.
Coffee was also cited recently in a study by office developers
Goodman, featured in the Guardian, which indicated having good
coffee machines in workplaces can help to improve the overall
happiness levels of staff.