LOOK YOUNGER
Couples
who have sex at least four times week look over 10 years younger than
the average adult, according to Royal Edinburgh Hospital research.
“Pleasure derived from sex is a crucial factor in preserving youth due
to the release of adrenaline, dopamine and norepinephrine,” says
neuropsychologist Dr David Weeks, who conducted the study.
“Plus,
sex triggers the release of human growth hormone, which combats free
radicals from pollution. This helps preserve skin cell walls and relax
muscles which could otherwise cause wrinkles.”
BEAT A COLD
This
definitely trumps shelling out the cash for a flu jab. Having sex at
least twice a week was found by US research at Wilkes University to
boost your levels of immunoglobulin A by 20 per cent. The antibody
protects against colds and other annoying viral infections.
The
study found those who had the most “vigorous” sex were even less prone
to spurting the wrong kinds of bodily fluids. “The key to boosting
these natural antibodies
is intensity and fun, so move around and try out all sorts of
positions,” says Paula Hall, a sexual therapist with UK-based
relationship consultancy Relate. “Try the ‘sexy scissors’ – with her
lying on the edge of a bed, left leg over your right shoulder and right
leg over your left. You swing her ankles in and out to the sides to trap
your penis inside her.”
DODGE CANCER
Unleash
that libido now, reap the rewards later. Men who ejaculate at least
seven times a week in their 20s were found to be over a third less
likely to develop aggressive prostate cancer in later life than men who
only muster three climaxes. Study author Professor Graham Giles from
the Cancer Council Victoria, Australia, reckons frequent ejaculation
prevents carcinogens from building up in your prostatic ducts. “If the
ducts are flushed out, there’s less build-up and damage to the cells
lining them,” says Giles.
Before you go crazy on the self-love, Giles adds that, “The biggest benefit comes from one ejaculation daily rather than multiple ejaculations on certain days".
KILL PAIN
Orgasm
can halve your sensitivity to pain, according to research in Bulletin
of Experimental Biology and Medicine. “Sex boosts endorphins, the
body’s natural painkillers, by up to a third in a matter of minutes,”
says Professor Stuart Brody, sexual psychologist from the University of
Paisley in the UK. “There’s concrete evidence this helps conditions such
as back pain and migraine.”
“If
you’re in pain, avoid anything overly vigorous and use long, slow
strokes, focusing on grinding rather than shunting,” advises Hall. Try
the “starfish”: Lie on the bed facing up, heads pointing in opposite
directions, “scissor” your legs and grab each others’ hands for
leverage. And fuel-up with a fruit salad to maximise pain relief – black
grapes and oranges are high in potassium and vitamins C, B and B12, all of which boost endorphins, according to the University of Surrey.
SLEEP LIKE A BABY
During
orgasm, the body produces oxytocin, a hormone that helps induce sleep.
“There’s no doubt sex helps beat insomnia,” says Dr David Delvin, author
of The Pocket Good Sex Guide. It’s what you could call an effective
tool.
Boost
your sleep potential by snacking on foods rich in the hormone
serotonin, such as wholemeal bread or turkey, 30 minutes before heading
horizontal. The serotonin hit helps your body absorb oxytocin into your
nervous system.
LIVE LONGER
The
trick is to prolong your pleasure before orgasm. “The longer it lasts,
the more good it does,” says Davey Smith. So, teeter on the edge to
increase the intensity of your orgasm. “Thrust as far as you can, then
grind against her,” advises Hall. “Your penis will be in the wider part
of the vagina, so there’ll be less stimulation. Keep the depth constant
for 30 seconds, then thrust again.”
Source: MensHealth
Source: MensHealth
