Benefits of Sex
"When you're in the mood, it's a sure bet that the last thing on your mind is boosting your immune system or maintaining a healthy weight. Yet good sex offers those health benefits and more. That's a surprise to many people, says Joy Davidson, PhD,a
Sex does a body good in a number of ways, according to Davidson and other experts. The benefits aren't just anecdotal or hearsay -- each of these health benefits of sex is backed by scientific scrutiny." *
Sex Relieves Stress
"A big health benefit of sex is lower blood pressure and overall stress reduction, according to researchers fromSex Lowers Blood Pressure
"Another study published in Biological Psychology found that frequent intercourse was associated with lower diastolic blood pressure (the lower, or second, number in a blood pressure reading). This study focused on people living with their sex partner.
Still further research found a link between partner hugs and lower blood pressure in women.
Elevated blood pressure is a risk factor for coronary artery disease, heart attack, kidney disease, and stroke." *
Sex Boosts Immunity
"Good sexual health may mean better physical health. Having sex once or twice a week has been linked with higher levels of an antibody called immunoglobulin A or IgA, which can protect you from getting colds and other infections. Scientists at
Those in the 'frequent' group -- once or twice a week -- had higher levels of IgA than those in the other three groups -- who reported being abstinent, having sex less than once a week, or having it very often, three or more times weekly."
Sex Counts As Exercise
"'Sex is a great mode of exercise,' says Patti Britton, PhD, a
The benefits of sex as a form of exercise are many - sex can improve your cardiovascular fitness, strength, flexibility, and balance, not to mention your emotional health.
Sex Improves Cardiovascular Health
"While some older folks may worry that the efforts expended during sex could cause a stroke, that's not so, according to researchers from
And the heart health benefits of sex don't end there. The researchers also found that having sex twice or more a week reduced the risk of fatal heart attack by half for the men, compared with those who had sex less than once a month." *
Sex Boosts Self-Esteem
"Boosting self-esteem was one of 237 reasons people have sex, collected
by University of Texas researchers and published in the Archives
of Sexual Behavior.
That finding makes sense to Gina Ogden, PhD, a sex therapist and marriage
and family therapist in Sex Strengthens Your Well-Being
"Sex, like any activity that fosters a close and loving connection to your partner, not only raises self-esteem, but strengthens your overall sense of well-being. Studies have shown that people with strong social support networks (which includes lovers) are healthier and happier than their
Sex Improves Intimacy
"Having sex and orgasms increases levels of the hormone oxytocin, the
so-called love hormone, which helps us bond and build trust. Researchers from
the 'Oxytocin allows us to feel the urge to nurture and to bond,' Britton says.
Higher oxytocin has also been linked with a feeling of generosity. So if you're feeling suddenly more generous toward your partner than usual, credit the love hormone.
Sex Reduces Pain
"As the hormone oxytocin surges, endorphins increase, and pain declines. So if your headache, arthritis pain, or PMS symptoms seem to improve after sex, you can thank those higher oxytocin levels." *
Oxytocin – The Love Hormone
"A study published in the Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine
examined the response of the 'love hormone' oxytocin on pain perception in an
experiment with 48 volunteers. Study participants inhaled oxytocin vapor and
then had their fingers pricked. Those who had inhaled oxytocin lowered their
pain threshold by more than half." *
Sex Reduces Prostate Cancer Risk
"Frequent ejaculations, especially in 20-something men, may reduce the
risk of prostate cancer later in life, Australian researchers reported in the British
Journal of Urology International. When they followed men diagnosed with
prostate cancer and those without, they found no association of prostate cancer
with the number of sexual partners as the men reached their 30s, 40s, and 50s.But they found men who had five or more ejaculations weekly while in their 20s reduced their risk of getting prostate cancer later by a third.
Another study, reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association, found that frequent ejaculations, 21 or more a month, were linked to lower prostate cancer risk in older men, as well, compared with less frequent ejaculations of four to seven monthly
Sex Strengthens Pelvic Floor Muscles
"For women, doing a few pelvic floor muscle exercises known as Kegel
exercises during sex offers a couple of benefits. You will enjoy more pleasure,
and you'll also strengthen the area and help to minimize the risk of
incontinence later in life.To do a basic Kegel exercise, tighten the muscles of your pelvic floor, as if you're trying to stop the flow of urine. Count to three, then release.
Additional Benefits of Kegel
Exercises
"Kegel exercises have a number of proven health benefits in addition to
making sex more enjoyable. The strengthening of the pelvic floor muscles can
help prevent prolapse (a slipping out of position) of the vagina, uterus, and
bladder. Pelvic floor muscles may be weakened later in life as a result of
childbearing, being overweight, and aging. Kegel exercises help offset the
consequences of weakened pelvic floor muscles." *
Sex Helps You Sleep Better
"The oxytocin released during orgasm also promotes sleep, according to
research.And getting enough sleep has been linked with a host of other good things, such as maintaining a healthy weight and blood pressure. Something to think about, especially if you've been wondering why your guy can be active one minute and snoring the next." *
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