Big Bang Theory
Why a little rumpy-pumpy is another word for sexual healing
By: Anna Sachse
I don’t expect these perks to be in the forefront of your mind when you’re busy getting busy, but nevertheless, here are some of the health highlights of hittin‘ it.
Sex Burns Calories
According to the calorie calculator at www.healthstatus.com, a 150-pound person who actively engages in a 30-minute romp will burn around 144 calories. In comparison, 30 minutes of weightlifting only burns 136 calories. If you take the sex route, you can burn an extra 49 calories (and win the undying devotion of your lady friend) by starting out with 30 minutes of foreplay. Repeat this combo 19 times and you will lose a pound of fat.
The Internet abounds with websites that list the calorie count for a myriad of sexual experiences, such as “Pulling Out After Orgasm: 1/4 calorie vs. Pulling Out A Few Moments Before Orgasm: 500 calories” (www.c4vct.com), but these are just a bunch of tomfoolery. Like any form of exercise, the actual number of calories you will burn while having sex is dependent on a variety of factors, including your weight, the amount of energy you put into it and how long you go at it, as well as the difficulty and weight-bearing nature of the position i.e. holding someone up against a wall Roadhouse-style is going to burn more calories than lying flat on your back, half-asleep. In general, if you really want to lose those love handles, you’re probably better off hitting the gym than simply making love. But if you want something that will boost your serotonin and dopamine and you find yourself torn between sex and gorging on chocolate, remember that candy is dandy, but sex won’t make you fat.
Sex Boosts Immunity
Doin it‘ once or twice a week raises the body’s level of the immune-boosting antibody immunoglobin A by a third, so says researchers at Wilkes University in Pennsylvania. Sure beats guzzling DayQuil.
Sex Relieves Stress
Is the economy keeping you up at night? Try rolling over and onto your sweetie. According to a 2005 study by Stuart Brody, a psychologist at the University of Paisley in Scotland, having sex is an effective way to keep stress at bay. In Brody’s study, both men and women were asked to keep a diary of how often they engaged in various forms of sex during a two-week period. After, they underwent a test involving public speaking and performing mental arithmetic out loud. Those who had logged the most penetrative intercourse were found to be the least stressed, and their blood pressure returned to normal faster than those who had suffered no sex, as well as those who had engaged in other sexual activity, such as masturbation. The theory is that a combo of nerve stimulation and the release of the “pair bonding” hormone oxytocin is responsible for the calming effect. Oxytocin is also a natural pain reliever and sleep aid.
Sex is Good for Your Heart
In a 10-year study of 2,500 men ages 45 to 59, researchers from the University of Bristol and Queen’s University of Belfast found that men who have three or more orgasms a week are 50 percent less likely to die from coronary heart disease. So now, instead of claiming blue balls, teenage boys who want to get laid can tell their target that a refusal might literally break their heart.
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