It is often said that romantic love is the greatest form of love that a person can have, but a growing body of research has shown that platonic love or friendship love is just as important. In fact, platonic love has been labelled essential for a healthy life.

As we observe Valentine’s Day, we celebrate love, showing appreciation to the people in our lives who continue to be there for us, showing their kindness and support.

One of the common characteristics between friendships and romantic relationships is that they both start with a spark. Whether it is a shared liking of a television show or the same beliefs, there is often something that draws us to a person.

When this happens, that person becomes a part of our support system and we lean on them when challenges present themselves. Typically, a person would lean more on their partner than their friend, but research has shown that support from a friend trumps support from a romantic partner.

Researchers have found large social networks lower our risk of premature death – more than exercise or dieting alone.

A six-year study of social support in the Journal of Biobehavioral Medicine looked at 736 middle-aged Swedish men. The results indicated that having a life partner didn’t affect the risk of heart attack or fatal coronary heart disease — but having friends did.

A 10-year Australian study on the effects of social networks in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health also found that older people with a lot of friends were 22 per cent less likely to die during the study period than those with few friends. Notably, having a social network of children and relatives did not affect survival rates.

So, the next time you consider getting rid of your friends, you may want to think twice, because, according to research, friends are important for your health.

As we celebrate love today, if you are without a valentine, consider grabbing a friend and finding something fun to do.

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