Hygge Defines Health

Hygge is a philosophy of life and grounded in principles of health and happiness. It isn't just a fun word to say (pronounced HOO-gAH) that makes you smile but is rooted in old Norske meaning "wellbeing" and later interpreted by the Danish as a "cozy contentment with the simplicity of life." In this day and age, everywhere you turn there is added stress and disease and we all need more warmth and joy to simply be present. The Norwegians (and even Danes) are among the happiest countries in the world and this simple philosophy of being present, focusing on gratitude and warmth like a hug (as it literally sounds) is the essence of health or as Norwegians have always defined it, wellbeing. 

I'm Emily Carle, a family nurse practitioner with a direct primary care in Maine. My practice has a mission of increasing access to authentic health care. I'm starting this blog to dive deeper into what health, wellbeing and authentic care really is. I believe health is more than a checklist of prevention or disease management and as a primary care provider I offer patients person-centered care along with evidence based practice, lifestyle medicine, and trauma informed care. I grew up in rural Maine and have a heart for small town community and the simply joys in life along with having faith to accept the serenity of all of life's twists and turns like the back roads of my home state. 

The World Health Organization defines health as "a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease." This holistic and preventative approach to health is often criticized and opposite allopathic or conventional (or corporate) healthcare system where providers are trained based on test results (labs, imaging, assessments) or the presence of objective data signifying disease. Integrative or functional providers (often labeled eastern medicine) tend to offer a more proactive health approach, treating symptoms and supportive care with natural remedies and complementary therapies, identifying root causes and caring for the whole person. A newer trend is lifestyle medicine which identifies health through 6 core pillars: nutrition, physical activity, stress resilience, sleep, social support, and avoidance of risky substances. Much of these pillars promoting health, as well as defining it, stem from evidence in Blue Zones where some of the oldest people live not only in quantity of days but quality of life. 

I've traveled the world and having lived in Norway, I have a bias towards the beautiful lifestyle of hygge or as the modern day Vikings now tend to use the term koselig, translated as "hug" and meaning more than the action but the feeling. When put that way, I have flashbacks to the Ally McBeal dancing naked baby (for those who grew up in the 90's), but the essence represents comfort, joy, safety and appreciation. A hug is warmth and care; a nurturing connection where one may be more vulnerable or as a greeting suggesting a nice to see you and appreciation. A hug is an embrace that signifies much of Maslow's Hierachy of Needs from belonging to affirmation; I guess we all need to be hooked on that feeling. 

There's a lot of history, culture and even geography to consider with hygge; much like the evolution of how we define health. In the middle ages, hugge (that's not a typo but part of the tug of war between Norway and Denmark) meant the "comfort of an embrace which resonated soul, mind and consciousness;" so renaissance and poetic. The Norwegians gave the word life based on the symbolism of fire which represented to Vikings safety and warmth during very cold winters. Fire guarded their communities externally and internally heated their homes. The flickering softness of the flame literally giving light to spaces for connection as well as a much needed resource for cooking and fuel. But the Danes saw fire or hygge (back to Y) more to instill courage and that a hug or embrace was less warm and fuzzy and more perseverance and strength or even resilience from within and not from receiving from another. The Germanic and Old English translation took this further to imply that it was less about a feeling and more about a thought and consideration. I think that's where the flame may flicker as we focus on analyzing, justifying or understanding versus simply embracing.  

Hygge is becoming a widely used term from coffee table books, self care guides and even interior design. From the suggestion to use soft, natural colors to how to cook the best meatballs and Yule traditions; the international craze has "hugged" hygge to accept the cultural idea. But the phenomena of hygge isn't in it's brand, but it's secret ingredient oxytocin. 

The Happiness Institute (boy would I love to work there) in Copenhagen Denmark recognizes hygge as having a positive effect on one's health by reducing anxiety, creating belonging and connections of love and appreciation. This positive effect triggers the release of the anti-stress hormone oxytocin, known for being the "love hormone," which reduces oxidative stress through it's anti-inflammatory properties and improves neurological and cardiovascular function. In other words, a hug a day is the new aspirin. 

Whether referring to internal confidence and courage or external embraces and connections, hygge is an embrace of being present and finding comfort in the simply joys like a flickering flame. So light a candle, decorate with natural colors and soft textures, cook some meatballs and invite a friend over for dinner. Hug yourself and another so that it is deep to your soul with wellbeing and let your flame burn with that cozy healthy feeling. 

If you are interested in learning more about Authentic Healthcare and my Direct Primary Care practice,

contact me: 

Emily@carleprimarycare.com

www.carleprimarycare.com

@carleprimarycare

#authentichealthcare

References:

American College of Lifestyle Medicine. Lifestyle medicine. https://lifestylemedicine.org/

Coleman, E. (2022, February 25). Understanding the types of integrative medicine doctors. Fullscript. https://fullscript.com/blog/types-of-integrative-medicine-doctors

Everyday Health. What is hygge and why is it good for your wellbeing? https://www.everydayhealth.com/wellness/what-is-hygge-and-why-is-it-good-for-your-wellbeing/

Harvard Health Publishing. (2023, June 13). Oxytocin: The love hormone. Harvard Medical School. https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/oxytocin-the-love-hormone

Stevenson, J. R., McMahon, E. K., McNeely, T. L., & Haussmann, M. F. (2023). Oxytocin prevents dysregulation of the acute stress response and glucocorticoid-induced oxidative stress in chronically isolated prairie voles. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 153, 106121. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2023.106121

Uher, I. (2020). Allopathic and naturopathic medicine and their objective consideration of congruent pursuit. Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7428928/

VisitDenmark. (n.d.). The Danish lifestyle: Hygge, happiness and much more! https://www.visitdenmark.com/denmark/things-do/traditions-lifestyle/hygge

Wikipedia contributors. Hygge. In Wikipedia. Retrieved April 24, 2026, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hygge

World Health Organization. Constitution. https://www.who.int/about/governance/constitution