How Sex is Good for You
2014-11-19
A recent study out of the University of Montreal claims that regular ejaculation lowers the risk of prostate cancer. But there are many other ways that sex is good for you, too. For instance, a 1999 study found that those who have sex twice per week helped protect their body against colds. Men who engaged in intercourse at this frequency had 20% more immunoglobulin in their bloodstream, which helps fight off sickness promoting bacteria and viruses. De-stress with sex, and if your partner doesn’t believe you, point them to a study in the journal Biological Psychology. Touching, kissing, holding one another, and other physical closeness lowers cortisol—the stress hormone. It also boosts oxytocin, a powerful, depression fighting hormone that helps us bond and feel connected. Want to look younger? Getting some one-on-one time with your partner could mean preserving the impish rogue in the mirror, instead of seeing him turn into an old devil too soon. According to a study out of Royal Edinburgh University, those who had sex four times per week or more released higher levels of the hormones norepinephrine, dopamine, and adrenaline. This relaxes muscles and preserves skin cells, staving off wrinkles. Players beware. For this benefit “loving intercourse” was found more beneficial than simple promiscuity.
Want to protect your ticker? Spend more time between the sheets. Those men who had sex twice per week had a 45% less chance of having a serious heart attack, according to the New England Research Institute in Massachusetts. 1,000 men participated in the study. These results are now prompting doctors to ask patients about their sex lives. Looking to get a little more physical fitness in your life? Twenty four minutes in bed with a lover burns 104 calories, so say researchers at the University of Montreal. You should plan for a longer session to receive the full benefit. A quickie burns only 20 calories. As we age, weakened bones become a serious concern for both sexes. Luckily, testosterone helps to strengthen them. Sex boosts testosterone which can in turn protect your bones. Trouble sleeping? A roll in the hay puts most guy’s right to sleep. French medical institute Inserm confirmed this. The release of the neurotransmitter serotonin makes you both happy and relaxed post-coitus. So the next time you are putting the moves on your partner, let them know your motives aren’t selfish, merely health-related.