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Being in love is good for your heart—and we don’t mean figuratively.

According to a new British study, married fathers in a solid relationship had lower levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (aka the “bad” one) and lower body mass index (a measurement of body fat), both of which add up to better cardiovascular health.

So what’s to credit?

“The evidence so far suggests that married couples and perhaps happier couples are more inclined to look after each other, which may have a direct impact on cardiovascular risk factors and cardiovascular disease,” says marriage researcher Dr. Rahul Potluri, a cardiologist with Aston University in Birmingham, England.

Meanwhile, Patrick Markey, a psychology professor at Villanova University in Pennsylvania, agreed that significant others “often contribute to our physical health more directly. For example, some research in our lab has found that wives often monitor their husband’s eating and are more likely to encourage them to eat in a healthy manner. Similarly, wives also appear to be more likely to encourage their husbands to go to doctors, get flu shots and take medication.”

All that TLC from your loved one surely deserves a reward: Take her to Garmany for a surprise shopping spree—and don’t ever argue when she suggests that flu shot.