The health benefits of sex go way beyond the pleasures of orgasm. You get a health boost in all sorts of ways from fooling around, from lowering blood pressure to stress reduction. Read on for all the excuses you need to schedule sex tonight.
The health benefits of sex go way beyond the pleasures of orgasm. You get a health boost in all sorts of ways from fooling around, from lowering blood pressure to stress reduction. Read on for all the excuses you need to schedule sex tonight.
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Sex, especially orgasm, releases the bonding hormone oxytocin, which promotes a feeling of well-being and happiness. And you don't have to act like bunnies to get the benefit; a <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.spsp.org%2Fpress_release%2Fsex-frequency-study" target="_blank" target="_blank">study of 30,000 Americans over four decades</a> found that sex at least once a week was enough to make people happy.
10 reasons to have sex tonight —
Sex, especially orgasm, releases the bonding hormone oxytocin, which promotes a feeling of well-being and happiness. And you don't have to act like bunnies to get the benefit; a study of 30,000 Americans over four decades found that sex at least once a week was enough to make people happy.
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Sex seems to be especially good for a woman's heart -- the physical one, that is. A <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2016%2F09%2F08%2Fhealth%2Fgreat-sex-older-men-women-study%2Findex.html">recent study</a> found that women who said they had frequent, extremely satisfying sex had a lower risk of hypertension, a common precursor to heart disease.<br />
Sex seems to be especially good for a woman's heart -- the physical one, that is. A recent study found that women who said they had frequent, extremely satisfying sex had a lower risk of hypertension, a common precursor to heart disease.
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Regular, frequent sex may lower the risk of prostate cancer, <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.medscape.com%2Fviewarticle%2F844820" target="_blank" target="_blank">according to research</a> presented to the American Urological Association. A study of 32,000 men over 18 years found that men who ejaculate at least monthly may be less likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer later in life.
Regular, frequent sex may lower the risk of prostate cancer, according to research presented to the American Urological Association. A study of 32,000 men over 18 years found that men who ejaculate at least monthly may be less likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer later in life.
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You won't look like this without hitting the gym, of course, but sex is a form of exercise, <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2013%2F09%2F17%2Fhealth%2Fsex-calorie-burn-upwave%2F">burning about 150 calories an hour</a>. Add it to the end of your workout as a reward with benefits.
You won't look like this without hitting the gym, of course, but sex is a form of exercise, burning about 150 calories an hour. Add it to the end of your workout as a reward with benefits.
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Sex can lessen pain. Studies have found that even stimulation without orgasm can reduce menstrual cramps, chronic back and leg pain, even <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fpubmed%2F23430983" target="_blank" target="_blank">migraines</a>. Something to think about the next time you consider saying "Not now, honey, I have a headache!"
Sex can lessen pain. Studies have found that even stimulation without orgasm can reduce menstrual cramps, chronic back and leg pain, even migraines. Something to think about the next time you consider saying "Not now, honey, I have a headache!"
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Sex may help your memory, too. Men over 50 who had more sex were better at word recall and number sequencing, while older women improved only in word recall, <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fpubmed%2F26826237" target="_blank" target="_blank">according to a study published by Oxford University.</a> Both did better than those who had less sex.
Sex may help your memory, too. Men over 50 who had more sex were better at word recall and number sequencing, while older women improved only in word recall, according to a study published by Oxford University. Both did better than those who had less sex.
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Sex lowers stress and anxiety by releasing all sorts of good-for-you hormones, and that can help ward off depression, too. <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fonlinelibrary.wiley.com%2Fdoi%2F10.1111%2Fj.1743-6109.2009.01677.x%2Ffull" target="_blank" target="_blank">Studies show</a> that men and women who have intercourse with their partners have greater satisfaction with their mental health. Unfortunately, the benefits didn't extend to masturbation.
Sex lowers stress and anxiety by releasing all sorts of good-for-you hormones, and that can help ward off depression, too. Studies show that men and women who have intercourse with their partners have greater satisfaction with their mental health. Unfortunately, the benefits didn't extend to masturbation.
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Good sex improves sleep, too. After orgasm, the hormones prolactin and serotonin are released, helping you feel relaxed and sleepy. Women (<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.indiana.edu%2F%7Ekinres%2Fchapters%2FStoleru_Mouras.pdf" target="_blank" target="_blank">and some studies</a>) argue that men receive the greater benefit.
Good sex improves sleep, too. After orgasm, the hormones prolactin and serotonin are released, helping you feel relaxed and sleepy. Women (and some studies) argue that men receive the greater benefit.
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In case you didn't know it, sex can also make a baby. And that can be good for you. <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2014%2F01%2F14%2Fliving%2Fparents-happiness-child-free-studies%2F">Studies show</a> that people with kids living at home tend to have more money and are more highly educated and in better health.
In case you didn't know it, sex can also make a baby. And that can be good for you. Studies show that people with kids living at home tend to have more money and are more highly educated and in better health.
Andy Dean Photography/Shutterstock
10 reasons to have sex tonight

Story highlights

Sex lasts six minutes on average and only burns about 21 calories, study says

30 minutes of sex can burn in the neighborhood of 85 to 100 calories

Incorporating some of your favorite yoga poses may up the caloric ante

upwave.com  — 

When I think of the ultimate sex workout, I picture the scene from “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” where Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie throw each other around their kitchen for an hour. Unfortunately, not every sexual experience is quite that… well, high-intensity. But how many calories do we really burn in the act?

The rumor: A bout of sexual activity can burn between 100 and 300 calories

We hear all the time that sex is a great workout, but what are the hard facts? How much sex is considered exercise? On a scale from fast asleep to Brangelina, where does the average sexual encounter lie on the calorie-burning scale?

The verdict: Sex burns a few calories, but frequent friskiness isn’t going to replace the gym

You may not be getting quite as good of a workout between the sheets as you think. According to a study conducted by the New England Journal of Medicine, sex lasts six minutes on average and only burns about 21 calories.

As an exercise physiologist and someone who even finds ways to burn calories while driving and working on my computer, I found this to be a very disappointing statistic. According to WebMD, 30 minutes of sex can burn in the neighborhood of 85 to 100 calories; if you feel like you have a pretty vigorous sex life, you’re probably on the higher end of that statistic.

This got me thinking. While it appears that we probably shouldn’t be giving up our gym memberships in the name of sex anytime soon, there are ways we can optimize our sexercise. Here are some ideas:

Sex before breakfast. Having sex in the morning is a great idea for several reasons. A man’s testosterone levels are the highest between 7 and 8 a.m., for one. Also, if you make time for a half-hour morning session, you can roll out of bed and right into your morning workout and you’re already warmed up! Now that’s something worth setting your alarm for.

Flexi-sex. In the average yoga class, you can burn anywhere between 100 and 300 calories per half hour. Incorporating some of your favorite yoga poses into your sex life can definitely up the caloric ante and stretch your hip flexors at the same time. (I’ll let you take creative liberty with this one.)

Eating for endurance. Incorporating some endurance-boosting foods can also help when trying to kick it up a notch in the sex department. Foods such as figs, oysters, celery, blueberries, peanuts, bananas, garlic and even chocolate have the potential to boost a man’s sexual stamina.

(Note: Carb-loading the night before your morning sexathon is not recommended and will likely be counterproductive.

5 ways to boost your stamina

Switch it up. With sexercise – as with any workout – it’s important to try new and different things all the time. By trying more challenging and adventurous positions, you use different muscles for stabilization, constantly surprising your body (and maybe your partner), and getting a better workout.

If you find yourself in the same few positions every time and your most adventurous sex location is the foot of the bed (yawn), it’s definitely time to mix it up.

Core-gasm. Engage your core at all times while having sex. Focusing on your core and isolating the muscles around your pelvic floor will not only strengthen your six-pack, it’ll make your tummy look flatter in the moment.

Also, there’s increasing evidence that the right core workouts can induce orgasm. Talk about double the pleasure!

Where’s my orgasm?

Cross-train. We’ve already established that sex doesn’t really count as your primary form of exercise, so why not exercise for better sex?

Research shows that women who regularly exercise have more active sex lives, reach orgasm more quickly and are more easily aroused than sedentary women.

Furthermore, in the study, women were more sexually responsive following 20 minutes of vigorous exercise. Among males, short intense exercise is linked with increased testosterone levels, which may stimulate sexual interest and behavior.

Looking for the perfect warm-up and foreplay for a steamy hot shower session? A sexy morning workout with your other half may do the trick. Focus your workout on isolating muscles that will help you while in the sack. Pelvic thrusts are a must!

Riley Rearden contributed to this report.

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