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If pretty women are good for a man’s health, by immediately boosting hormone levels associated with well-being, it turns out smart women are even better. According to a Swedish study, men married to smart women will likely live longer.
A couple of weeks ago I ran a column, which ignited quite the discussion, about a study finding that pretty woman are good for a Gen Y man’s health. In follow up, I discovered another study that sort of spoke to the points many readers found frustrating in the previous study.
Several readers were concerned with the underlying shallow tone that talking with a pretty woman for five minutes boosted a Gen Y man’s testosterone and cortisol levels. They asked about a woman’s intelligence and how that affected a man.
This Swedish study suggests that if men marry an intelligent woman it will have longer lasting effects on a man’s health than the brief boosts experienced by talking to a pretty woman. Experts at Stockholm University examined data on the 1990 Swedish census on over 1.5 million people aged 30 to 59. They then examined the causes of death on these same 1.5 million people over the next 13-year period.
The study, published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, found that a woman’s education level was more important than the man’s in when it came to the chance of him living a long life. The authors of the study concluded that educated women better understand healthy living choices and shared that advice with their husbands.
In non-scientific speak, the smart wives likely forced their hubbies to eat more salads, cut down on the alcohol and get more exercise. In short, it sounds like they did the thing we women tend to do which drives men crazy. They nagged.
So there you have it. A man’s secret to a long, healthy life. Gen Y guys in your dating prime, take note: find a pretty AND intelligent woman. Marry her.
Because she’s smart, she’ll likely nag you to keep you healthy and you’ll live a long time. And, because she’s pretty, you’ll get the immediate hormone boost to tolerate the nagging and make you actually WANT to live a long life.
Reader Feedback: What do you think? Do you think a smart woman nags a man to keep him healthy? Guys, do you make a point to date pretty AND intelligent women?
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Comments
12.04.09
I want to keep this post in my proverbial Dating File. It kind of reminds me of the mother from My Big Fat Greek Wedding, "The man is the head, but the woman is the neck. And she can turn the head any way she wants."
12.04.09
I'm married to a pretty woman who is also smart - how long will I live?
12.04.09
Emily, I love that saying!
Sharalyn, as always you spark my interest. I'm not sure so much about the nagging part, though. All women nag. It's just our schtick really, smart or otherwise. But I do have to say that it might just be good for your brain to have a smart woman around in any case; smarter women might contribute more to the relationship intellectually and emotionally. This is not to discount the pretty women. That would be my guess.
great post as usual :)
12.04.09
Told you so, told you so, told you so. :)
12.04.09
So many thoughts! :)
@Emily: That is one of my all-time favorite movie quotes either. I think it is so so so true. This all does sort of support that, huh?
@Ted: I don't know for sure, but I'll wager it'll be a long time and you'll be happy! ;)
@Mehnaz: THANK YOU! You are too kind. And, I agree, it wouldn't just be nagging, although that's what the study supported, I think smart women DO contribute more intellectually and emotionally (of course not slighting pretty women). But, I think there are more women out there who are both than people think.
@JRandom42: This column was almost exclusively for your benefit! ;) I couldn't wait to have you see! I almost emailed to you directly! ;) haha
12.04.09
I've said it for years: "Smart chicks are hot!"
12.06.09
Interesting post. How about the flip side? What qualities in men help women live longer?
12.09.09
yea Saralyn, wat about flip side? i think it is more less the same thing.
12.09.09
@Jay. You are a smart man! ;)
@Michael and @Kimkeen I agree. I would imagine the flip side is true too. I have yet to find a study to back it up...I'm on the look out, stay tuned!
Thanks for the feedback, everyone!
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