Did You Know Love Making Has Amazing Health Benefits? Check Out These Top 10

Dr. Toyin Bode-Abass

Did you know twisting the sheets comes with a slew of body-boosting side effects? Having sex regularly in your marriage can do more than make you feel closer to your spouse – it can actually make you physically healthier. See top 10 ways:

1. Improves Immunity

Sexually active couples take fewer sick days – a study showed.

Couples who have sex regularly have higher levels of the Immunoglobulin A antibody (IgA), which is the body’s first line of defense. IgA wards off invading organisms at their entry point. This may explain why couples who have frequent sex take fewer sick days off.

You should still do all the other things that keep your immune system healthy, such as:

• Eat right.
• Stay active.
• Get enough sleep.
• Keep up with your vaccinations.

2. A Youthful Glow

Get busy to get gorgeous. In a study conducted at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital in Scotland, a panel of judges viewed participants through a one-way mirror and guessed their ages. Those who were enjoying lots of nooky with their spouses – four times a week, on average – were perceived to be 7 to 12 years younger than their actual age. Regular sex promotes the release of hormones, including testosterone and estrogen, which can keep the body looking young and vital; estrogen has also been shown to promote soft skin and shiny hair. Move over, moisturizer—time to turn back the clock with sex.

3. Improves Women’s Bladder Control

A strong pelvic floor is important for avoiding urinary incontinence, something that will affect about 30% of women at some point in their lives. Intercourse helps to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, which contract during orgasm. This can help women to improve their bladder control and avoid incontinence. You can boost this benefit even more by practicing Kegel exercises during sex (a Kegel squeeze is performed by drawing your lower pelvic muscles up and holding them up high and tight, as if you’re trying to stop a flow of urine).

4. Lowers The Blood Pressure

Sexual activity, and specifically intercourse, is linked to better stress response and lower blood pressure.

Research suggests a link between sex and lower blood pressure . There have been many studies, one landmark study found that sexual intercourse specifically (not masturbation) lowered systolic blood pressure. (That’s the upper number recorded when you have your blood pressure check).

5. Counts as Exercise

I love this benefit! Sex counts towards the calories ripped!
Sex is a really great form of exercise. It won’t replace the treadmill, but it counts for something.

Sex gives you a one-two punch: It bumps up your heart rate, helps burn calories and strengthen muscles, just like exercise. In fact, research recently revealed that sex burns about 4 calories a minute for men and 3 for women, making it (at times) a ‘significant’ form of exercise. It can even help you maintain your flexibility and balance.

So get busy with your spouse! You may even want to clear your schedule to make time for sex on a regular basis. Like with exercise, consistency helps maximize the benefits! (So says DrTBA). Yes, you get a more toned body.
Sex counts as cardio! A romp can burn anywhere from 85 to 250 calories, depending on the length of the session (obviously a quickie will be less strenuous than an all-night pleasurefest). In fact, cardiologists consider sexual activity comparable to a modest workout on a treadmill, according to a study published in The American Journal of Cardiology.

You also get to squeeze in some sculpting: Your abs and the muscles in your back, butt, and thighs get a good workout as you thrust during sex. Looks like you have a pretty good reason to skip your aerobics or brisk walking on Saturday morning and work up some sweat in bed.

6. Lowers Risk Of A Heart Attack
A good sex life is good for your heart. Besides being a great way to raise your heart rate, sex helps keep your oestrogen and testosterone levels in balance. When either one of those is low you begin to get lots of problems, like osteoporosis and even heart disease.

Married men who had sex regularly (at least twice a week) were 45% less likely to develop heart disease than those who did so once a month or less, according to one study.

7. Pain Relief
One study found that sexual activity can lead to partial or complete relief of headache in some migraine and cluster-headache patients. Before you reach for an aspirin, try for an orgasm. Orgasm can block pain. It is said to release a hormone that helps raise your pain threshold. It’s been found that vaginal stimulation can block chronic back and leg pain as well.

8. May Make Prostate Cancer Less Likely

Going for the gusto may help ward off prostate cancer.

Men who ejaculated frequently (at least 21 times a month) were less likely to get prostate cancer during one study, which was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

It’s not clear that sex was the only reason that mattered in that study. Lots of factors affect cancer risk. But more sex won’t hurt.

9. Improves Sleep

You may nod off more quickly after sex, and for good reason.

After orgasm, the hormone prolactin is released, which is responsible for the feelings of relaxation and sleepiness after sex. The “love hormone” oxytocin, released during orgasm, also promotes sleep.

10. Eases Stress

Sex triggers your body to release its natural feel-good chemicals like serotonin, helping to ease stress and boost self-esteem. Research also shows that those who have sexual intercourse responded better when subjected to stressful situations like speaking in public. Being close to your spouse can soothe stress and anxiety.

Why don’t you look for new ways to keep the flame burning in your marriage so you can enjoy the immense health benefits of sex?

Dr. Toyin Bode-Abass is a proud Wife and Mom, Medical Doctor, Women Empowerment Advocate, Wellness Coach, Integrative Medicine Consultant, Icon of Womanhood, Writer and Blogger. See more of her articles on her blog -http://www.fitnesswithdrtba.com