The Health Benefits of an Active Sex Life
Having an active sexual life is one of the best things that you can do for your health. It can improve your mental and physical health. And it can increase the likelihood of you and your partner being able to remain together.Let’s take a closer look at the benefits of sex in this article.
Physical Benefits
An active sexual life has a number of health benefits. Not only can benefits of sex help you maintain a healthy weight, it can also boost your heart rate and give you a sense of wellbeing.
You’ll also feel more physically and emotionally connected to your partner.
In terms of mental health, sex can alleviate headaches, reduce back pain, improve memory and mood, and relieve stress. The hormones it releases, such as oxytocin, also promote bonding and intimacy.
Having sex regularly will also help you fight off the common cold. Studies show that salivary immunoglobulin A (IgA), an immune system booster, increases in people who engage in regular sex. IgA also helps you fight off viruses and germs.
Those who do more sex look younger. Researchers have found that people who are more frequent sex users are more likely to have skin tone that looks younger than their actual age. This is partly due to the hormone estrogen, which promotes a youthful glow.
Another advantage of an active sex life is that it can strengthen your muscles. It can also keep your mind active as you age. Many studies have shown that sexual activity can strengthen your brain’s executive function.
Having sex regularly can increase testosterone levels in men, which can help protect against heart disease.
Women who continue to engage in sexual activity after menopause have less vaginal atrophy, a painful condition that can lead to urinary symptoms.
Mental Benefits
There are many physical and mental benefits of sex. You may have heard of the hormones released by sex, such as dopamine and endorphins, which are associated with enhanced feelings of pleasure and self-esteem.
But you may not know that having sex has also been shown to improve the brain’s memory and recall capabilities.
One study of 7,500 college students found that those who engaged in frequent hookups had lower self-esteem and fewer positive emotions than those who had less frequent sex.
Researchers used retrospective data and well-validated psychometric tools to examine the relationship between sex and emotional well-being.
Another study, using both retrospective and Web-based data, measured the influence of sexual activity on psychological outcomes. The results were similar to those of the previous study, and showed that having sex on a regular basis can enhance mental health and cognitive function.
Sexual activity also improves relational health. It has been shown to decrease stress and reduce anxiety, and can strengthen emotional bonds with partners.
It has also been shown to boost immune function. Adults who engage in sex regularly have higher levels of immune system defenses and fewer sick days.
Sexually active couples have higher baseline oxytocin levels than couples who break up. Aside from promoting social bonding, oxytocin is also responsible for fostering contentment.
Relationship Benefits of Sex
An active sexual life can be a key to a happy and healthy relationship. It can bring many benefits to both partners. However, not everyone needs sex to be happy in a relationship. There are ways to increase intimacy even without it.
Studies suggest that physical intimacy may provide several benefits of sex, including improved sleep and a better immune system. Studies on older adults have found that physical activity such as kissing contributes to a more pleasant quality of life.
Having sex helps reduce tension and stress in the brain. This decreases the body’s response to stress, and leads to a happier state of mind. A good sex life can also help improve a person’s self-image and confidence.
A healthy sex life can also help prevent long-term illnesses such as cancer. The oxytocin hormone produced after a sex can help alleviate pain, relieve headaches and promote a sense of calm.
A healthy sex life can reduce the risk of heart disease, as well. Studies have linked higher rates of sexual activity to lower blood pressure, and a lowered divorce rate.
During sex, hormones such as dopamine and oxytocin help the brain reward itself for positive behaviors. Interestingly, studies have found that this effect is also seen in monogamous couples.
Physically touching your partner during sex can boost feelings of safety and playfulness. Getting a flutter on the inside of your partner’s tummy may also bolster your feelings of love.
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