FACTS: 5 Healthy Reasons S*x is Recommended

Why hit the gym when you can work out in bed?

There are many physical and mental health benefits of sex that go beyond the bedroom. Countless studies prove that sex has many positive impacts to the mind and body, and is good for you in many ways that you may not have thought about before.

If you were wondering if sex is good for your health, the answer is definitely "yes." Let's explore the five benefits that sex has on the human mind and body, and why having more and better sex, may be the solution to some of your health challenges.

 

1. Provides AMAZING Stress Relief
A great benefit of regular sex is that it lowers blood pressure and overall stress. Hence the common joke about men and women who seemingly need an attitude adjustment or "happy pill" needing to just "get laid." When engaged in sexual activity, there are many chemicals that play a role in the positive side effects of sex.

The main players are dopamine, the reward hormone, prolactin, the hormone of satiation, oxytocin the "cuddle hormone" and levels of androgen receptors. All of these powerfully affect our desire for intimacy and our susceptibility to addictive activities and substances. So if you're feeling stressed out, I suggest you solve it by taking it to the bedroom; it's a fun remedy, even if it's temporary.

2. Burns Some Serious Calories
If you are looking for a great alternative to jumping on the treadmill or hitting the gym to burn calories, you may want to trade gym time for "sexercise." Having sex is a great alternative to increased cardiovascular health, better flexibility and muscle tone.

There are varied studies about how many calories sex can actually burn. Depending on your sexual activity and rigorousness of sex, you can burn anywhere from 200 – 700 calories in one session, and the physical and psychological benefits go hand in hand. 

The average calorie burn for sex is about 85 calories for half an hour. If you are more rambunctious, you can double this number. This equates to losing about one pound after 21 hours. If you want to increase your overall calorie burn, you can increase the intensity and length of your sessions. Here's a little break down of the calorie burn for each sexual activity:

Foreplay: Even your "warm-up" burns calories. You can burn up to 25 calories every 15 minutes of foreplay based on a 150 pound person.

Massage: A sensual massage can burn up to 80 calories per hour, and is obviously a fun and enjoyable activity for both partners.

Performing oral sex: Can burn up to 100 calories per half an hour. 

Having an orgasm: If you want to top off the calorie-burning, reaching orgasm can burn an additional 60 to 100 calories. To increase this count, you don't have to stop at just one.

The secret? Put more time, passion and energy into your activity and enjoy the benefits!

3. Increase Life Longevity
They say that an active sex life slows the aging process, and it has been proven that men who have regular sex will actually reduce the risk of heart attack. Any caring partner that knows sex lowers blood pressure and boosts cardio health should encourage frequent sex, right? Sex can reduce the risk of fatal heart attack, increase immunity and improve cardiovascular health.

With all of these benefits combined, you will live longer than those who do not engage in regular sex. Studies have revealed that regular sex can extend one's life span by up to 7-8 years! I don't know about you, but I'll take more sex over a casket any day of the week. 

4. Improves Self-Esteem (That's Right!)
Do you want to know why the men and women in those Viagra commercials are all smiling, whistling, jumping and skipping while walking to work? Sexual activity actually improves one's self-esteem. A major reason why many people choose to have sex is to feel better about themselves; it's a great side effect especially when you need a little boost.

5. Lowers The Risk Of Cancer
It may relieve men to know that increased ejaculations will lower the risk of prostate cancer. Studies have shown that guys in their 20s who "get off" five or more times a week reduce their risk of getting prostate cancer by a third, whereas older men with 21 or more ejaculations per month were linked to lower prostate cancer.

A 1989 study in France found that women who had less sex or no sex at all had three times the risk of breast cancer compared to those that had sex more frequently.