Ahhhh the topic of Sex. You had to assume I would write on it eventually. And for good reason!!
I have compiled a bit to show you how sex is actually amazing for your health.
Happy Valentine's Day, all! Enjoy!
Happy Valentine's Day, all! Enjoy!
Naomi.
10 Surprising Health Benefits of Sex
The perks of sex extend well beyond the bedroom.
http://www.webmd.com/sex-relationships/guide/10-surprising-health-benefits-of-sex
Being "in the mood" just might help your health.
How does a juicy sex life do a body good? Let's count the ways.
1. Less Stress, Better Blood Pressure
Having sex could lower your stress and your blood pressure.
That finding comes from a Scottish study of 24 women and 22
men who kept records of their sexual activity. The researchers put them in
stressful situations -- such as speaking in public and doing math out loud --
and checked their blood pressure.
People who had had intercourse responded better to stress
than those who engaged in other sexual behaviors or abstained.
Another study found that diastolic blood pressure (the
bottom number of your blood pressure) tends to be lower in people who live
together and have sex often.
2. Sex Boosts Immunity
Having sex once or twice a week has been linked with higher
levels of an antibody called immunoglobulin A, or IgA, which can protect you
from getting colds and other infections.
A Wilkes University study had 112 college students keep
records of how often they had sex and also provide saliva samples for the
study. Those who had sex once or twice a week had higher levels of IgA, an
antibody that could help you avoid a cold or other infection, than other
students.
3. Sex Burns Calories
Thirty minutes of sex burns 85 calories or more. It may not
sound like much, but it adds up: 42 half-hour sessions will burn 3,570
calories, more than enough to lose a pound. Doubling up, you could drop that
pound in 21 hour-long sessions.
"Sex is a great mode of exercise," Los Angeles
sexologist Patti Britton, says. It takes both physical and psychological work,
though, to do it well, she says.
4. Sex Improves Heart Health
A 20-year-long British study shows that men who had sex two
or more times a week were half as likely to have a fatal heart attack than men
who had sex less than once a month.
And although some older folks may worry that sex could cause
a stroke, the study found no link between how often men had sex and how likely
they were to have a stroke.
5. Better Self-Esteem
University of Texas researchers found that boosting
self-esteem was one of 237 reasons people have sex.
That finding makes sense to sex, marriage, and family
therapist Gina Ogden. She also says that those who already have self-esteem say
they sometimes have sex to feel even better.
"One of the reasons people say they have sex is to feel
good about themselves," she says. "Great sex begins with self-esteem.
If the sex is loving, connected, and what you want, it raises it."
Of course, you don't have to have lots of sex to feel good
about yourself. Your self-esteem is all about you -- not someone else. But if
you're already feeling good about yourself, a great sex life may help you feel
even better.
6. Deeper Intimacy
Having sex and orgasms boosts levels of the hormone
oxytocin, the so-called love hormone, which helps people bond and build trust.
In a study of 59 women, researchers checked their oxytocin
levels before and after the women hugged their partners. The women had higher
oxytocin levels if they had more of that physical contact with their partner.
Higher oxytocin levels have also been linked with a feeling
of generosity. So snuggle up -- it might help you feel more generous toward
your partner.
7. Sex May Turn Down Pain
Oxytocin also boosts your body's painkillers, called
endorphins. Headache, arthritis pain, or PMS symptoms may improve after sex.
In one study, 48 people inhaled oxytocin vapor and then had
their fingers pricked. The oxytocin cut their pain threshold by more than half.
8. More Ejaculations May Make Prostate Cancer Less Likely
Research shows that frequent ejaculations, especially in
20-something men, may lower the risk of getting prostate cancer later in life.
A study published in the Journal of the American Medical
Association found that men who had 21 or more ejaculations a month were less
likely to get prostate cancer than those who had four to seven ejaculations per
month.
The study doesn't prove that ejaculations were the only
factor that mattered. Many things affect a person's odds of developing cancer.
But when the researchers took that into consideration, the findings still held.
9. Stronger Pelvic Floor Muscles
For women, doing pelvic floor muscle exercises called Kegels
may mean more pleasure -- and, as a perk, less chance of incontinence later in
life.
To do a basic Kegel exercise, tighten the muscles of your
pelvic floor as if you're trying to stop the flow of urine. Count to three,
then release.
10. Better Sleep
The oxytocin released during orgasm also promotes sleep,
research shows.
Getting enough sleep has also been linked with a host of
other health benefits, such as a healthy weight and better blood pressure.
That's something to think about, especially if you've been wondering why your
guy can be active one minute and snoring the next.
Okay, so now we know that it's actually A-M-A-Z-I-N-G for our health. So, let's build a body that is strong to make that sex even better!
Exercises for Better Sex
WebMD Feature
By Wendy C. Fries
Reviewed By Michael W. Smith, MD
http://men.webmd.com/fit-and-healthy-10/exercises-better-sex
To "keep your sex life awesome," exercise
physiologist Rich Weil suggests these top five "sexercises." Though
the following exercises are geared toward men, they also work great for women
who want a boost to their sex life.
Pushups. If you're going to pick just one exercise to do,
this is the one to go for, Weil says, "for all the obvious reasons."
If you can’t do basic training-quality pushups at first, start with wall
presses (essentially pushups done against the wall), aiming for 3 sets of 12 to
15 repetitions. When you're ready, progress to knee pushups on the floor,
making sure to keep your back straight (squeeze your butt and suck in your gut)
while you slowly touch your nose to the ground. Once you're ready to kick it up
a notch, progress to traditional hand-and-toe pushups.
Abdominals . Weil, director of the New York Obesity Research
Center Weight Loss Program at St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital Center, says your
abs are a critical sex-boosting body area to work on. "After all," he
says, "you have to use your abdominal muscles during sex." Weil
suggests starting your ab workout with good old-fashioned crunches. Lie on your
back, hands supporting your neck, knees bent, and your feet on the floor. Then
bring your body up just enough to get your shoulders off the ground. Do 3 to 5
sets of 15 to 20 repetitions.
For additional ab oomph, Weil suggests men and women also do
bridges. Lying on your back, knees bent, feet on the floor, lift your hips up
and down for 3 sets of 15 reps. Men can also try pelvic tilts. Standing up or
lying down, straighten your lower back and pull your belly button in until your
lower back touches the wall or floor. Women can try Kegels. Contract your
pelvic muscles -- the ones you'd use to stop the flow of urine; squeeze the
muscles tight for 3 seconds, then relax for 3 seconds. Do 10 to 15 repetitions
three times a day.
Deadlifts . This exercise will keep your back as strong as
it can be, Weil says, and give your legs and torso a workout too. Deadlifts, in
which you start in a neutral bent-over position and raise a weighted barbell or
dumbbells from the ground, are easy to do -- and easy to do wrong. So technique
is important to prevent injury. Get some pro tips online or at your gym to be
sure you're getting the most out of doing deadlifts.
Torso side bends and twists. To get the most from this
exercise, as well as the next one, head to the gym. The effort is worth it
because torso side bends and twists will keep your upper body strong, Weil
says, and give you stamina. "Do them on the cable crossover machine for
maximum effect."
Pushing or pulling exercise in the gym. Rows, flyes, and
lateral raises on the cable crossover machine will do a great job of enhancing
your performance in the bedroom, according to Weil. Remember to get a few quick
tips from a pro on how to do these exercises most effectively.
If you want even more sizzle, exercise for 20 minutes right
before sex and, Weil promises, "you’ll never do better!"
Pick your pleasure. Rather walk, swim, or jog? How about Pilates or yoga? Maybe you prefer biking or skiing? Great, because Paul Frediani, fitness coach and co-author of Sex Flex: The Way to Enhanced Intimacy and Pleasure, says barring any health problems, cardiovascular exercise of any kind is a great way to stimulate your sex life.
But you'll want to avoid the weekend warrior syndrome to get the most bang for your exercise buck. Aim for a 30-minute workout five times a week. Get your blood pumping regularly and the payoff is simple: endurance, more strength to hold positions, and the flexibility to hold them in comfort. Now that's sexy.
Bonus: Better Erections
You may already be sold on the benefits of exercise, but here's a bonus at no extra charge. Exercise may help beat erectile dysfunction. One study showed that, for men over 50, being physically active means a 30% lower risk of erectile dysfunction as compared to men who are sedentary. Studies also show a strong link between obesity and ED.
In addition, people who exercise often have a better body image than people who don't. This can help them feel more sexually appealing. "One study found that 80% of men and 60% of females who exercised two to three times a week felt their sexual desirability was above average," Weil says.
Want to have sex like you're 20 years younger? Weil cites a study that showed swimmers in their 60s have sex lives comparable to people in their 40s. Other research found that, for men and women over 55, high levels of sexual activity were associated with higher degrees of fitness when compared to younger inactive people.
"Although there can be many factors to exercise and sexual activity, what some studies suggest is that people who are fit and active have more sex than sedentary people." The bottom line? "Being strong and flexible with lots of endurance will put the spunk into sex for you and your partner," Weil says.
And don't forget to develop the most important muscle of all. "Sex begins with the muscle between the ears," says Frediani, "not the muscles in your abs, arms, or thighs. If you feel healthy and have a positive body image, you will have a better sex life."