According to the latest studies, regular sex can provide some incredible boosts to your health and well-being.
1. Look younger
Last week, Dr David Weeks, clinical neuropsychologist at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital, revealed to a psychology conference that his extensive research had found older men and women with an active love life looked five to seven years younger than their actual age. But you don’t have to be at it every night to enjoy youth-enhancing effects! In fact, during his 10-year study, Weeks found quality was as important as quantity, with the anti-ageing benefits stronger if the sex was classed as “loving”.
2. Boost your fertility
This will sound like music to most men’s ears – studies have found that the more often you make love, the better quality your sperm will be. If you’re trying to conceive, you increase the volume of semen if you have sex regularly. Regular sex replaces old sperms from the testicles. If there is a natural build of sperms it can lead to DNA damage. Keep sperm fresh and in tip-top shape by having sex everyday, and not only around the time of the woman’s ovulation.
Frequent sex has also been found to help balance a woman’s hormones and regulate her periods, which can further boost chances of conceiving.
3. Fight colds and flu
Having sex everyday has been found to raise your body’s levels of an antibody called immunoglobulin A, or IgA, which can protect you from colds and flu. One study found people who have sex more than once a week have 30% higher levels of IgA than those who abstain.
4. Disease-proof your body
Having high levels of the natural steroid DHEA, known as “the anti-ageing hormone”, is believed to be key to keeping your body fitter for longer. During sex, DHEA is secreted throughout the body, and after an orgasm, the level in the bloodstream soars to five times its normal amount.
5. Lengthen your life
A study carried out in Australia found people who climaxed at least once a day had a 50% lower chance of dying for any medical reason than those who only climaxed once a week or month.
6. Shift your middle-age spread and keep fit
Thirty minutes of vigorous sex burns up to 100 calories, which is the same as a small glass of wine. And if you have active sex on a regular basis, you’ll burn an extra 5,000 calories a year! Varying your positions is also a great, fun way to tone different muscle groups and keep limbs lean and flexible.