Recent studies suggest that people who have sex frequently are healthier than those who do not. There are several reasons for this.
First, sexual activity helps keep your heart healthy. When you make love, you increase blood flow to the area of the body being stimulated. This increased circulation aids in oxygen and nutrient supply which help keep your heart strong.
Second, having sex is a good source of stress relief. Once again, increasing blood flow and relaxation aid in lowering stress.
Third, sex feels good! And just like any other good thing we enjoy, feeling relaxed and happy makes us feel better about ourselves and our lives.
While there is no clear proof that sex is linked to longer life, there are some studies suggesting it may play a role in overall health and wellness. More frequent orgasms have been shown to reduce stress, while also improving your sleep quality. And recent research suggests that people who enjoy having sex are happier than those who don’t!
In fact, one study found that men were more likely to live longer if they reported being frequently sexually active. The researchers hypothesize that this comes from experiencing success with intimacy, which can give you a feeling of satisfaction and self-esteem.
Sex increases your heart health
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Recent studies indicate that having sex is an excellent way to improve your overall cardiovascular (or blood flow to body parts) health. More and more evidence suggests that sexual activity has positive effects on cardiac function, reducing resting levels of stress hormones like adrenaline in the process.
Some research even indicates that people who have less frequent intercourse are at risk for coronary artery disease (CAD). Because one of the major risks with CAD is high cholesterol, lower LDL (“bad”) cholesterol due to sex may be one reason why some researchers think about how long you live when deciding whether or not to have sex.
Not only do these benefits strengthen your pelvic floor muscles, but they also boost your confidence and help reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety. The same goes for men! These workouts don’t need to be done during sex, though you can do them anywhere, any time!
You’re probably already doing something to promote a healthy heart and circulatory function, so keep practicing what you’re doing! If you want to add some fun to your sex life, try experimenting with new positions, touches, and rhythms.
Sex can lower your risk of dementia
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Recent studies suggest that having sex is linked to lowering your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia.
A recent study found that people who reported being sexually active in their twenties experienced a 50% reduction in the odds of getting Alzheimer’s later in life as compared with those who were less engaged in sexual activity.
Another large population-based cohort study conducted at the University of California, San Francisco also concluded that menopausal women who were more frequently sexually active during middle age had a reduced risk of developing early-onset Alzheimer’s.
Given that one out of three older adults over 65 experiences some level of cognitive impairment due to aging or neurological disorder, this finding is significant.
It may affect your bone health
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Recent studies suggest that having sex is an excellent way to keep your bones strong and healthy. That’s not to say that people who don’t have sex are going to get osteoporosis, but researchers found that those who reported frequent intercourse had better bone density than those who didn’t.
A study conducted at UCLA examined whether there was a link between sexual activity and the risk of fracture in older women. They analyzed data from 1,857 women over 40 years old. About one-third (32 percent) of participants said they always or frequently engaged in vaginal penetration with a partner; 30 percent said the same about oral sex, and 20 percent said the same about anal sex.
Researchers couldn’t determine if these benefits come from all three types of sex, from different positions, or both. But they note that it’s important to make love like you mean it! Given how great sex is for our overall physical and mental wellness, why wouldn’t you? Fortunately, sex doesn’t have to be complicated to reap rewards.
It can reduce stress
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While there is no proof that sex lengthens your lifespan, it does play an important role in reducing overall stress levels. When you feel stressed or overwhelmed, having sex can help reset your mind and body.
A study conducted at UCLA found that men who reported being sexually active also tended to report lower stress than men who were not as open about their relationships.
The researchers hypothesize that part of this effect may be due to the increased production of dopamine, a neurotransmitter linked with motivation and reward. Dopamine seems to have similar effects on the body as cocaine, making more sense of why people sometimes say they want to do things because they “need a break” from work or family.
But beyond simply feeling good, there’s actually science backing up other potential benefits of sex including improved sleep and reduced blood pressure. These benefits grow even stronger when sex is enjoyable and intimate.
Sex can help you lose weight
Although having sex is great for your heart, it’s not necessarily helpful to your waistline. Many people seem to think that engaging in sexual activity will help you lose weight, but this isn’t always the case.
A recent study suggests that the opposite may be true. The researchers found that men who reported more frequent intercourse lost less body fat over time than men who were sexually inactive.
This makes sense because most of us don’t typically eat right after we have sex. Most likely, you’ll head straight for the refrigerator or skip lunch entirely.
So, while some people might want to try sleeping with themselves as a way to get into shape, we can’t really recommend this one yet.
It can help you look younger
We’ve talked before about how having sex is one of the best things you can do for your overall health, but some studies suggest that it may also help you look younger.
A few studies have actually found that people who are sexually active tend to enjoy better-quality skin than those who are not. This could be due to more frequent exercise, better nutrition, or both.
Research also shows that sexual activity helps keep bone density healthy. Because women experience lower levels of estrogen after menopause, experiencing at least two orgasms per week can reduce bone loss in the hip by up to 2% every year.
However, there isn’t enough evidence to determine whether this effect lasts longer than a year.
It can help you feel happier
We all need to feel happy and connected with people around us, but not every person in your life needs to be next to you for you to live a healthy, happier life.
Having sex can make you feel happier. Health benefits of having sex include improved mood and stress relief, along with increased intimacy and bonding.
Sex is an excellent way to connect with someone else, create some fun, and increase intimacy within your relationship. Plus, there are now medically accurate methods for improving sexual desire that doesn’t involve taking supplements or drugs.
These strategies work by changing how well your body reacts to serotonin — a brain chemical that helps regulate emotions. By adjusting this balance, you can help restore normal function.