Ward off diseases, boost your mood, feel good in your skin—you don’t need to buy or take anything to get these health benefits. How then? Sex, of course.
If it feels so good, it has to be g-o-o-d, right? When it comes to sex and how it benefits the body, we just have to agree.
There’s another reason to have sex more often *aside from it giving us that blissful “O”*: the health benefits. Seriously, sex is simply good for the body. From getting off on your own, to actually twisting sheets with someone *especially someone dear*, here are the top 14 health benefits of sex.
14 health benefits of sex
Pass up that pill—you don’t need drugs to make you feel good, relieve your pain, and give you a high. Just have sex!
#1 Burn, baby. Sex is a great, fun, and pleasurable way to get your daily dose of exercise. Sex burns calories, keeps you active, bumps up your heart rate, and makes use of muscles all over your body. In fact, a romp in the hay, so to speak, can burn between 85 to 250 calories, so don’t feel bad about not skipping dessert on your date when you’re going to get laid afterwards. And that’s not all—like exercise, it can increase your strength, flexibility, and balance. So if you’re having sex regularly, you can throw away that expensive gym membership.
#2 Slim and toned bod. Since sex is a great form or exercise, you can expect yourself to have a slim, if not thinner, and toned body—and keep things that way. Regular sex can keep the levels of your high-anxiety hormone, cortisol, in check so you have fewer food cravings, which tend to make you eat unhealthy foods and, therefore, gain weight.
#3 Fewer sick days. Ever wonder why your colleague doesn’t seem to get sick and always has the best attendance? She’s probably having more sex. This is because sexually active people have stronger immune systems, so they’re better able to ward off and defend the body against germs and viruses. In a study conducted at Wilkes University in Pennsylvania, researchers have found that people who have sex once or twice a week show 30% higher levels of immunoglobulin A, which boosts the immune system.
#4 Improved snooze. You ever wonder why you feel downright dreamy after a resounding “O”? This is because the same endorphins that are released when you’re having sex de-stress and relax you, priming you for a good night’s sleep. Aside from this, a study claims that the hormone called prolactin is also released, which is associated with sleep. However, highly active sex can also make you more energized. So, if you want to use sex to snooze, then opt for a languid, more subdued session, instead of intense acrobatics.
#5 Less stress. Just being close to someone you love can relieve you of stress and anxiety–getting it on with someone you love can de-stress you that much more. Actually, according to many studies, stress and libido go hand in hand. Being in a foul mood can send your libido on a downward spiral, while being in a good mood results in more affection and sexual activity.
Still, when you’re feeling down, sex is a great option to lift your spirits. This is because sex keeps your cortisol levels in check, while releasing oxytocin and endorphins, the feel-good hormones… making you feel relaxed and smiling after a good romp.
#6 Going pee-pee. For women, sex can help them improve bladder control. This is something important as you grow older or bear more babies, where incontinence becomes more and more of a problem. Still, having sex often can strengthen your pelvic floor muscles, which help you have better control of your bladder. This is because having orgasms during sex, or even during masturbation, stimulate contractions, which essentially function as a workout for your Kegels.
#7 Lighter periods. Another reason sex is great for women’s health and well-being is that it results inlighter periods and fewer menstrual cramps. This is because, during orgasms, the uterus contracts and rids the body of cramp-causing compounds. Contractions can also help expel blood and tissue more quickly, so your period ends faster and you feel relieved sooner. So, while sex during a red-flag day may not be so appealing, it may just be worth the mess.
#8 Increased appetite. For sex, that is. The answer to wanting to have more sex is, of course, having more sex! In other words, having more sex will result in you having a better sex life, as it improves your libido. For women, having sex increases vaginal lubrication, blood flow in the reproductive system, and elasticity. As a result, sex feels much better and you crave more. Meanwhile, having more sex for men gives them improved sexual performance and makes them last longer in bed.
#9 Pump it up. Sex, particularly *not masturbation* can lower your blood pressure, decreasing your risk for coronary heart disease, heart attack, stroke, and even kidney disease. In a study published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, it has been found that those who have sex twice or more a week have a reduced risk of fatal heart attacks, compared to those who had sex less than once per week.
#10 Pain killer. Having sex releases pain-reducing hormones such as oxytocin, and endorphins that can reduce pain in various parts of the body, such as the back and legs. It can relieve menstrual pain, as well as discomfort in joints caused by arthritis. In a study, sex was even found to partially—or completely—relieve the symptoms of migraines.
#11 Less risk for prostate cancer. Many studies have found that ejaculation can help men be in their best state of health. It’s also been determined that men who ejaculate over 21 times a month, whether by sex or masturbation, are at lower risk of prostate cancer.
#12 Bumps up self-esteem. One of the many reasons people have sex is that it boosts self-esteem. This is according to a study published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior. While those who have a good amount of self-esteem do have sex, they admit that the deed makes them feel so much better about themselves. According to the study, if the sex is loving and the person feels connected to their partner, they walk away with better self-esteem.
#13 Increases sense of well-being. Since sex brings people closer to their partners and makes them feel good about themselves, what you do in the bedroom can give you an overall sense of well-being. By being connected with a loved one or significant other through sex, people become healthier, more confident, and happier.
#14 Fountain of youth. You know that “morning-after glow” people tell you after you just had sex? That’s real. It’s been studied that people really do look better after sex. In fact, it makes them look younger. This is because the body’s heart rate increases, as blood circulates all over the body. Additionally, you release feel-good pleasure chemicals that make you feel happier and more relaxed.
Sex is truly one of the best things life has to offer. Having a healthy sex life is one of the best things about life itself. On top of that, healthy sex means a healthy body, too!
From making you scream to high heavens as you blissfully come, to reducing the risk of cancer, to warding off viruses and germs, you have plenty of reasons to enjoy the benefits of sex—and a lot of them go way beyond the bedroom. So, get out there and have at it!
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