7 Unexpected Health Benefits You Get From Sex
Fight disease, reduce pain, look younger; find out why sex might be the key to a long and healthy life.
By Josephine Brouard from BestHealthMag.Ca
Photo courtesy of Best Health Magazine, September 2009
1. It helps you breathe easier
Sex is reputedly a natural antihistamine, helping to combat hay fever and asthma symptoms.
2. You'll look younger
A good sex life is a key to youthful looks, according to a study of 3,500 people age 18 to 102 conducted by the Royal Edinburgh Hospital in Scotland. Researchers attributed this to reductions in stress, greater contentment and better sleep, all of which are also associated with sexual activity.
Photo courtesy of Best Health Magazine, September 2009
3. It can help your body fight disease
Engaging in sex once or twice a week produces 30 percent higher levels of immunoglobulin A, which boosts your body’s immune system. Scientists have also found that having an active sex life may even lower your risk of developing cancer, heart disease and stroke. On top of all that, it’s a remedy for colds and flu.
Photo courtesy of Best Health Magazine, September 2009
4. It burns calories
Like any exercise, sexual intercourse burns fat and calories—about 96
calories in 20 minutes for a 150-lb. person. That means it’ll burn off
the calories from that extra glass of wine at dinner (which may have
been what put you in the mood in the first place!).
Photo courtesy of Best Health Magazine, September 2009
5. It reduces pain
Studies show that vaginal stimulation results in increased pain
tolerance, and pleasurable self-stimulation of the clitoris also has an
analgesic effect. Researchers report that this type of stimulation can
ease the pain of menstrual cramps, arthritis, migraine and other
conditions.
Photo courtesy of Best Health Magazine, September 2009
6. It helps you live longer—if you do it often enough
A Welsh longitudinal study examined the relationship between mortality
and frequency of sexual activity. Researchers found that the risk of
dying in any one year was 50 percent lower among men who had sex twice
or more a week than among men who had sex less than once a month. Even
when controlling for such factors as age, social class and smoking
status, the study concluded that the more sex, the better.
Photo courtesy of Best Health Magazine, September 2009
7. It promotes a feeling of well-being
Sexual activity fosters everything from sexual and reproductive health
to happiness. And one U.S. study of more than 1,800 people found that
surges in oxytocin and endorphins (which have an apparent sedative
effect) occurred as a result of orgasm, explaining why sex often leads
to falling asleep.
