Female friendship makes women healthier, happier, less stressed, live longer, and even feel more beautiful.*

Seriously. What book, subject, pill, product or action can deliver those results? What other topic can empower women and make such an impact on our overall happiness? What else can recharge the women who take care of their families, lead in their jobs/responsibilities, or tend to their families and friends?

As an adult, it’s not easy to make and keep friends. We don’t have the time we had as a child or teen to just be with our friends. We have responsibilities that fill our every waking moment. We’re busy taking care of our families, our jobs, our homes and gardens, our pets and plans for the future. We’re the Chief Operating Officer of our homes, the caretaker of our children and parents, and often that’s on top of a full-time job. So, it’s easy to see where female friendships, and actively making time for those friends, might easily disappear from our schedules, and eventually from our lives.

Where would we be without our friends? Scientists agree that stress causes chemical changes in the brain, and these changes can influence the state of our health. Research* shows that the lack of a social support system (aka: circle of girlfriends) has similar health implications as being obese or being a smoker. Without close friends, our stress levels can be elevated – and stress is the #1 factor in the majority of primary care doctor visits. It’s no surprise that stress can lead to medical issues like high blood pressure, insomnia, backaches, and even cancer.

Seriously. If Oprah or Johnson & Johnson came out with a ‘pill’ that delivered those amazing, significant health benefits, we’d be in a big line (to the drug store or to Canada!) to be happier, healthier and less stressed. (Fortunately Oprah has Gayle so she’s covered for BFF ‘blessings.’)

You don’t need a drug. You need a friend. You need girlfriends in your life. And to have friends, you’ve got to be a friend.

The argument for female friendship? Your health.

As your girlfriend, we want you to live a healthy, long life. So, hang out with your friends. Actively enlarge your circle of friends. Spend time with your BFF. And, because your friends deserve it and you’ll enjoy it, be a better friend.

*Research from The Tending Instinct, by Shelley E. Taylor. Dove™ study on beauty also quoted.