New research shows that when it comes to building intimacy as a couple, it's not only important to plan time alone together, it's also important to try new things. That's because when we try something new and exciting, happy chemicals like dopamine and norepinephrine flood our brains, the same chemicals that give you that butterflies-in-the-tummy feeling when love is brand new.

Recent studies have shown that when couples try something new together that they both enjoy, they report more satisfaction in their marriage than people who do the same activities over and over again. New activities may include taking a class together, or trying a new sport like skiing or hiking. Researchers theorize that it's the boost in brain chemicals that allow spouses to feel some of those "puppy love" feelings that inevitably fade over the years.

I've no idea if trying a new restaurant will make your heart beat faster this Valentine's Day, but getting out and being active as a couple is certain to boost your physical health and it may even bring you closer together.

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Valentine's Day is the perfect time to tell you partner you love them. Did you know, however, that how you act the rest of the year can have an impact on your partner's health? For instance, Bev recently told us that a spouse's personality can have an effect on how well you recover from surgery. And Adams shared a study with us that found that fighting (or sharing your feelings, at least) in a marriage can prolong your life.

In that vein, Forbes recently put into pictures several ways to help your spouse live longer. Studies have found that when one spouse kicks a bad habit, like smoking or binging on Doritos every night in front of the TV, the other is more likely to follow suit. Another study found that when one spouse is healthy, the other is more likely to be in good health as well. Finally, when one spouse is obese, the other's chance of obesity goes up 37%.

Oh, and men? Researchers found a nearly instant decrease in the flight or fight response among women when they held their husband's hand. Such a simple gesture, really.

So go ahead and buy those roses, but if you think of your spouse's health the rest of the year, you just might have them around a little while longer.

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Think you know everything there is to know about marriage? Think again. Many of the commonly held beliefs about how to have a great relationship -- such as never going to bed mad -- are being challenged by "Love Doctor" Terri Orbuch over at eDiets. Orbuch says that healthy relationships are key to not only mental and emotional health, but physical well-being as well. If you've ever had a spat with your spouse, then you know how rotten it feels. That stress can wear on you over time.

Orbuch says to go ahead and go to bed mad. It's better to cool off than say things you don't mean in anger. There are nine other "myths" she attempts to bust, so if you're married or in a long-term relationship, it might be worth your while to check it out.

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Sometimes, after a particularly hectic stretch of days, I gaze at my husband over dinner and think, "Oh yeah, I remember you." It's easy to push your relationship to the bottom of your list of priorities, especially in the wake of jobs, kids, and daily routines. A good relationship can actually promote your physical health, however, as well as your emotional and mental well-being, and it's worth it to keep it happy and healthy for you and your significant other.

So here are five tips to help you get closer to the one you love. They include:

• Listen, really listen, and follow up on what you hear.
• Focus on what you like about each other, rather than the fact that he never picks up his socks.
• Nag away, and get no where. Instead, present possible alternatives, but always cushion them with plenty of positives.
• Set aside time for each other every day, even if it's only a few minutes at a time.
• Get physical -- hugging, kissing, hand holding, cuddling, and sex can go a long way toward building intimacy.

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Do you have a healthy marriage? That term can describe emotional states or physical ones, but on the physical side, it's been found that if one spouse changes, the other might too.

In other words, spouses with healthy partners may become healthier as well over time. Want to stop eating so much fat and want to walk every night to get exercise? Perhaps your husband or wife will follow you and both of you can get healthier at the same time.

The study mentioned here was quite interesting, and should make married couples think a bit. How are you when it comes to being healthy? Has your spouse joined you freely or with begging?

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