How a Healthy Love Life Can Improve Your Overall Quality of Life
Benefits you never knew about.
For most adults, love and sex are incredible feelings. During intercourse, dopamine and opioid chemicals are released. Your body also releases oxytocin and endorphins. All of these chemicals are responsible for making you feel good.
Many people tend to think that the feel-good benefits of sex are limited only to the bedroom. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Sex offers benefits that extend well beyond the bedroom door. Here’s how a healthy love life can help to improve your overall quality of life.
Improved Heart Health
When estrogen or testosterone levels are unbalanced, your risk of developing heart disease increases. Sex helps to keep these hormones in check, which can help to protect your heart. Additionally, sex burns calories and can count as aerobic exercise. This can further help to improve heart health.
Lower Blood Pressure
Millions of Americans deal with high blood pressure. High blood pressure can increase your risk for issues like heart disease and heart attack. There have been many studies that have shown the link between sex and lower blood pressure. While intercourse alone can’t treat high blood pressure, it can most certainly help.
Improved Immune Health
The endorphins released during sex have been shown to help stimulate the cells in your immune system. The act boosts your body’s ability to make antibodies that can help to defend against bacterial and viral infections. With cold and flu season upon us, adding some extra bedroom sessions with other immune-boosting methods (such as a healthy diet and regular exercise) can help to reduce your risk of having to call in sick.
Increased Libido
Have you been noticing a decrease in your libido? Has dealing with erectile dysfunction or vaginal dryness made intimacy a bit more difficult? Believe it or not, a great way to boost libido is to have more sex. Regular sex aids in increasing desire. Men who have sex more often have a lower risk of developing ED. Meanwhile, more sex for women can help to increase natural lubrication.
Natural Pain Reliever
During sex, your body produces oxytocin as well as endorphins. These hormones (referred to as the love and feel-good hormones) are natural pain killers. They can help to reduce pain sensation as well as increase your pain threshold. It has been reported that stimulation and orgasm can help to alleviate pain from headaches and menstrual cramps. For some, it can even alleviate pain from arthritis.
Reduced Stress
As stated above, sex releases hormones from the brain. Oxytocin and endorphins help to promote bonding and a sense of calm. These hormones also boost feelings of love and trust, which can help to improve intimacy in your relationship. This isn’t just limited to sex, though. Simply hugging and cuddling with your partner can help to boost oxytocin levels in your brain, which can further help to foster greater intimacy.
Better Sleep
Having sex can promote better sleep. Following an orgasm, your body releases a chemical called prolactin. This chemical helps you to feel more relaxed. It can also cause you to feel sleepy. If you’re having trouble falling asleep, sex might just be able to help.
Longevity
It’s no secret that having a healthy diet and regular exercise can help you to live a longer, happier life. Did you know that a healthy love life can help, too? In addition to a decreased risk for heart attack, studies have shown that men who ejaculated frequently had half the death rate of those who did so less often.
Look Younger
Not only can sex help you to live longer, but it can also help you to look younger. Sex triggers the release of estrogen or testosterone, which helps your skin to appear younger and more vital. It also gives you a natural “glow,” which results from the flush under your skin and stress relief you experience.
A healthy love life can do wonders for your mental, emotional, and physical health. With all of these benefits, why wouldn’t you want to spend more time in bed with your partner?
About the Creator
Paisley Hansen
Paisley Hansen is a freelance writer and expert in health, fitness, beauty, and fashion. When she isn’t writing she can usually be found reading a good book or hitting the gym.
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