With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, we thought we’d enlighten you with some reasons to get sweaty under the sheets!
There have been lots of studies describing the health benefits of sex, but most of them relate to achieving orgasm. Now, we all know that you don’t necessarily need to be with someone to do that. Self-pleasuring can also be a key to achieving sex benefits so long as it relates to having a good orgasm. But, there is absolutely no doubt that making love is an tremendous part of life. And if you thought that the only benefit of sex was, well, pleasure, here’s some news for you, beyond pleasure, there are several health benefits of making love.
Once you’re engaging in safe-sex practices, increasing your sexual activity is a surefire strategy to better health. A healthy sex life can provide a longer, and most would agree, more enjoyable life. There are several hidden health benefits of love making that spread far beyond our bedroom walls:
It can reduce stress.
Are you stressed out with work or family problems? Sex triggers your body to release its natural feel-good chemicals like serotonin, helping to ease stress and boost pleasure, calmness and self-esteem. Research shows that those who have sexual intercourse responded better when subjected to stressful situations like speaking in public. Research has also shown that touching and cuddling during and after sex reduces the body’s levels of cortisol – the hormone that is secreted when you’re stressed
You’ll sleep happier.
You may be the type to nod off more quickly after sex, and for good reason. The sleep that you get just after you’ve made love will be much more relaxed. So don’t get paranoid that he or she just wanted booty from you and then they fell asleep. After an orgasm, the hormone prolactin is released within your body, which is responsible for the feelings of relaxation and sleepiness after sex. The “love hormone” oxytocin, released during orgasm, also promotes sleep. It also involves muscle contractions and movement that deplete the body of energy, allowing it to be flooded with those feel-good, soothing hormones. Sounds kinda crazy but at least you can understand why your partner is snoring shortly after.
It improves heart health.
Lots of studies have found that regular sex can ward off heart attacks, not bring them on as it was once feared. By raising your heart rate, sexual activity not only provides many of the same benefits to your heart as exercise, but also keeps levels of estrogen and testosterone in balance, which is important for heart health. When either one of those is low you begin to get lots of problems, like osteoporosis and even heart disease.
Sex boosts immunity.
Regular lovemaking increases the level of the immune-boosting antibody called immunoglobulin A (IgA). Your IgA immune system is your body’s first line of defense. Its job is to fight off invading organisms at their entry points, reducing or even eliminating the need for activation of your body’s immune system. People who have sex often have higher levels of immunoglobulin which is what defends your body against germs, viruses, and other intruders.
Sex burns calories.
After 30 minutes, sex burns around 85 calories or more. Sex is a great form of exercise and helps burn those stubborn calories. Studies suggest that sex on a regular basis is as good as pumping some iron in the gym. Also, it involves muscular movement of the thighs, legs, arms, shoulders and lower abdomen which equals a total body workout. The average session burns about 150 calories, comparable to an easy yoga session or a walk. It’s a nice exercise. This is definitely something to add-on to your morning run or just after a class.
It may make prostate cancer less likely.
There are male-specific health benefits of sex, too. Men who ejaculated frequently (at least 21 times a month) were less likely to get prostate cancer during one study, which was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Other benefits of regular sex include but are not limited to libido boost, lower blood pressure, lessen pain, strengthened wellbeing, improved intimacy and relationship, youthful glow, brain power boost, improved chances of fertility and improved bladder control in women.
So, what are you waiting for?
