Can sex alleviate illnesses?
So like we needed another reason to have sex, new research suggests that it may actually alleviate illness.
Sex has a number of health benefits: It cuts down the risk of heart disease, reduces the chance of a stroke and lowers your blood pressure, to name a few. People with active sex lives have been found to have more immunoglobulin A (an antibody) in their saliva that prevents illness and is the first line for defence. To put simply, the more sex you have, the more antibodies you produce, the greater chance you have at fighting illness!
Whilst sex can help to target illnesses, it can also alleviate day to day ailments such as headaches and depression. Here’s a few examples of where sex can give your pains the boot…
Headaches: The endorphins released by sex create a rush that can alleviate headaches. Paracetamol down, pants off!
Cramps: Orgasms cause the muscles in your uterus to contract and release brain chemicals that act as a natural pain reliever, which in this case, means reliving ladies of their menstrual cramps. Hallelujah!
Depression: We probably don’t need to tell you this, but sex makes you feel good (crazy eh?!) Scientifically, this is attributed to the release of endorphins, otherwise known as feel-good hormones which can alleviate negative mental state and relax you.
Stress: Getting frisky releases Oxyotcin, also known as the “cuddling hormone” that makes us want to snuggle up after sex (n’aww!). Cuddling has been proven to reduce stress and promote feelings of calm and wellbeing.
Colds: Ploughing through oranges, hoping they’ll heal you with their VitC powers? Try sex! Regular sex has been proven to boost your immune system which, in-turn, can cure the common cold. Sex raises an antibody that protects the body and fights the cold virus.
Insomnia: Post-sex, your body releases a hormone which makes you sleepy. The activity combined with the hormone should help send you on your way to a blissful nights kip.
General pain relief: Orgasms can block pain. The rush of euphoria you get from sex can make you forgot all about that nagging twinge.
