So we all know that we like sex. That it can be fun, adventurous, make us feel more closely connected to our partner, bring out a wild side we didn’t know existed and so on, but did you know that it actually can be physically healthy for you? It’s true! A healthy sex life, defined loosely, as “doing it” a couple of times or more per week, willingly and in good form or course, has all sorts of interesting health benefits. So if you’ve been putting sex on the bottom of your to-do list, you may want to reconsider, if for no other than reason than it could save your life… literally!

 

 

1. Boosts immunity. We all have that friend or colleague who never gets sick – not even a sniffle. What is their secret? It could be sex! Having sex once or twice a week has been linked with having higher levels of an antibody called immunoglobin A or for short, IgA – that’s the stuff that fights off colds and other infections. Deduction: sex = better immune system. Or you could eat an apple a day… your choice.

 

1. De-stresses. Stressed out? You could try yoga, a glass of wine, cry fest on your shrink’s couch, or a romp in the sack! That’s right, sex is a proven stress reliever. Although your blood pressure may shoot for the roof while in the act of “it,” overall, maintaining a healthy sex life results in lower blood pressure and overall stress reduction.

 

1. Increases heart health. Although having a heart attack while in the act may make for great melodramatic film, the likelihood of it actually happening are slim to none. Sex is actually heart healthy. For men in particular, those who engage in sexual activity two or more times per week reduce their risk of heart attack compared to those who have sex less than once per month. Not that you had to ever convince a guy to do it.

 

1. Promotes happy sleep cycles. Ever wonder why your man nods off after you’ve just rocked his world?! Well, that’s because of a little chemical called oxytocin released during orgasm. And as annoying as it may be that when you may be ready for a round two when your partner is already deep in dreamland, when it is your time to retire, your sleep cycle will be blissful as this chemical promotes healthier sleep, which is associated with weight and blood pressure maintenance.

 

1. Is a natural pain killer. Oxytocin, a chemical released during sex increases endorphins and decreases pain, particularly headaches – which means that your old backpocket headache excuse isn’t going to cut it anymore. Further, a romp in the sack also accelerates the healing of wounds, even stubborn sores like those suffered by diabetics by regenerating certain cells, so consider sex an excellent prescriptive cure.

 

1. Shed pounds. Say you have a few pounds to lose but can’t bear the thought of abandoning your love affair with nachos and ice cream and you hate the gym, sex could be an option! While it may not be as productive at weight less or muscle tone as more traditional cardio, you will burn 170 calories per hour, which is about a pound after 21 hour-long sessions. I can think of worse ways to get your sweat on!

 

1. Strengthens your bond. Oxytocin is also known as the “love hormone” because it helps us build trust and bond with one other, so naturally the more sex a couple has the more intimacy will be built. It has also been linked with a feeling of generosity so you can thank oxytocin for that bouquet of flowers or breakfast in bed you recently got.

 

1. Makes you feel hot! A core component of GREAT sex is having good self-esteem. And when you have good self-esteem and have sex, your self-esteem is boosted even higher. By allowing yourself to be uniquely and beautifully you, and appreciated for that, you wind up feeling wonderful and confident from the inside out.

 

1. Lowers cancer risk. We love our guys, so let’s love their prostates too by letting them get off more often. Studies show that men in their 20s who ejaculate 5+times a week, reduced their risk of getting prostate cancer by a third, whereas older men reporting 21+ ejaculations per month lowered theirs. And for us gals, more sex has been shown to decrease risk of breast cancer.

 

1. Produces more sperm! Hooray! In several studies, men who had frequent intercourse had a higher volume of semen, a higher sperm count and a higher percentage of healthier sperm, compared to men having less sex. And his good semen is good for you in that when absorbed, it can combat depression, boost your energy and even aid in easier baby deliveries.

 

 

Bonus: Do your kegels! You know, those muscles that you can squeeze to stop the flow of your pee. Not only is it true what “they” say about strong kegels leading to more satisfying sex, BUT if you want to avoid wearing diapers in your old age, having strong kegels just might be what you need to keep you in your thongs.