Shared dinner can affect not only mood but also metabolism. Scientists found that when a romantic partner was nearby, the rise in blood sugar after a carbohydrate-rich meal was nearly 24% lower.
Participants ate the same serving of white bread twice — about 50 grams of carbohydrates: once alone and once with a partner. In the second case, blood sugar rose less and returned to baseline faster.
Additional experiments showed a similar effect in response to cold, mild electric shocks, and a sudden loud noise. Overall, the presence of a close person helped the body recover faster. It seems that the phrase "I feel calmer when you’re here" has a measurable biological basis.
