Sex improves sleep and fights stress

That sex is good almost everyone knows. However, in addition to being pleasurable, activity can also have positive effects on the body and mind. According to the transpersonal therapist and specialist in human sexuality, Antonieta Mazon, having sex ensures well-being and offers several benefits, such as improved sleep and appearance, combating stress, decreasing hunger and even protection against the flu.

“During sexual activity, a great energy potential is triggered, generating an energy discharge capable of relaxing and reducing anxiety. The act releases hormones that promote pleasurable sensations, which can generate facial and body expressions that translate states of happiness and joy. The hair is, in general, a little more voluminous. That’s why when they’re excited or after having sex, partners tend to look healthier and more lively, helping both to feel more beautiful and attractive”, clarifies Antonieta.

There is ongoing research that relates greater sexual frequency to a reduction in heart attacks, a decrease in strokes and a lower incidence of prostate cancer. Sex can also decrease hunger, as during the act a type of amphetamine is released that regulates appetite.

“The benefits do not stop there. When we are stimulated by the right amount of sexual activity, the immune system can function better and protect the body more effectively against colds and flu. There are also indications that healing is faster for those who have sex regularly”, informs the specialist.

Sex is also well-being

During excitement, women produce estrogen and men, testosterone, hormones that prepare the partners for the sexual act. Faced with this flood of chemical substances, blood circulation increases, the heart races, the hair stands on end, the skin flushes and the genital region dilates, due to the great concentration of blood.

At that time, another substance begins to be released in the body: endorphin, responsible for the feeling of pleasure and satisfaction. The maximum release of this substance occurs during orgasm, when all the nerve cells in the brain “unload” their biochemical content into the body, promoting a state of total physical relaxation.

“This pleasure generated in sexual activity is also fundamental for psychic well-being, as it is capable of relieving tension, combating stress, increasing self-esteem, cheer and good humor. Sex leaves lovers in a state of happiness with themselves and with others, promoting relaxation and a fantastically pleasurable feeling”, celebrates the therapist.

Long live practitioners

An active sex life can also increase longevity. Sex increases people’s life expectancy as it offers health benefits and promotes the toning of various muscles in the human body, such as the pelvis, abdomen, arms and legs.

“During sexual intercourse, there is a decrease in body blood pressure and an increase in circulation, thus combating bad cholesterol. Thus, people who have sex more often are, as mentioned earlier, less likely to suffer a heart attack or stroke. The activity also brings relaxation, combats the stress of modern life and, consequently, promotes better quality of overall health. This all increases the person’s life expectancy”, concludes the therapist.

However, it is important to debunk the myth that the frequency of sexual intercourse is an important factor for good sexual health. The expert argues that the amount of sex depends exclusively on the desire of the couple. According to her, when there is a mismatch between the desires of both, it is necessary to invest in dialogue, so that everyone is happy and satisfied.

Casual sex is also good

A recent study by the University of Minnesota, in the United States, revealed that young people who usually have casual sex have the same level of self-esteem, emotional satisfaction and well-being as the group of people who maintain stable relationships. For the specialist in human sexuality, this result debunks the myth that casual sex has a negative effect on the emotional health of those who practice it.

“However, it is necessary to point out that this type of sexual activity, in addition to increasing the risks to physical health – with the possibility of acquiring sexually transmitted diseases, unwanted pregnancies and violence and sexual abuse – can cause an emotional breakdown, if the practitioner does not have the necessary emotional balance to avoid an affective involvement, perhaps unrequited. In this type of sex, in which the partners barely know each other, it is necessary to be emotionally balanced to enjoy the experience in the right measure. Otherwise, an emotional hangover with the bitter taste of loneliness will be inevitable”, ponders Antonieta.

women and sex

Apparently, the benefits of sex can be felt even more intensely among female practitioners. In women, activity can decrease PMS and menstrual cramps. This happens because during the sexual act the body releases endorphins and serotonin, in addition to increasing blood circulation in the perineum region, through vigorous physical exercises of sex. All this generates a later feeling of relaxation, pleasure and well-being.

“During the excitement phase, the woman’s body releases a so-called estrogen, which is good for the skin, making it more lush and less flaccid, in addition to improving the appearance of the hair, which becomes more shiny”, analyzes Antonieta.

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