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The Health Benefits of Love and Intimacy
Health | May 21, 2018
Love is one of our strongest emotions, representing both human kindness and compassion, as well as affection. Aside from being considered pure and benevolent, love is something which is both directed towards ourselves and those around us. But did you know that this powerful emotion is a vital component when it comes to the health and wellness of our hearts, bodies, and even our minds?
It turns out that this emotion, as well as sexual activity, have some health benefits that may surprise you.
While sex may be considered a bit taboo in some cultures, the truth is that it is a great and lovely source of happiness, health, and vitality. Plus, none of us would be here without it!
In his book, Love and Survival: the Scientific Basis for the Healing Power of Intimacy, Dr. Dean Ornish, stated that “anything that promotes feelings of love and intimacy is healing.” For example, sex can affect your stress levels. The “love hormone” oxytocin and as well as your endorphins elevate during sex, which in turn causes you to experience feelings of euphoria, calmness, and relaxation. This helps to improve your overall mood and reduce stress.
Sometimes even a simple, reassuring hand on the shoulder or a hug from a friend or loved one can be beneficial to our wellbeing as well. In the 1930’s Dr. Rene Spitz noticed that the number of newborn children becoming ill and dying in hospital wards had nothing to do with nutrition or hygiene but rather the lack of comfort and touching the infants were receiving from hospital staff. It was when he brought in “grandmothers” to hold and cuddle the children that he noticed the rates of illness and mortality rapidly decrease.
Here are a few more benefits of love and intimacy:
Intimacy Helps to Increase Blood Flow: Sex helps to increase the amount of blood flow to your brain and other organs. The increase in your heart rate, as well as deep breathing, will improve your circulation. Organs and muscles will be supplied with new oxygen and hormones thanks to the fresh blood supply, and this will help flush out the “used” blood along with any waste which might have been causing illness and fatigue.
Intimacy Burns Calories: Sex can be a total-body workout, and like most workouts, it burns calories! Sexual activity can strengthen your muscles, increase your flexibility, and boost cardiovascular conditioning. Now depending on your level of exertion, you could burn the same number of calories as you might when going for a brisk fifteen-minute walk on the treadmill!
Love Improves Your Self-Esteem: When we love ourselves, we are more likely to take better care of our bodies. Self-love can lead to one being more involved in activities, being more aware of physical fitness and better nutrition, and steering clear of unhealthy lifestyle choices and bad habits.
Love Improves Your Mental Health: Feeling loved and wanted can help to decrease feelings of anxiety and fights off depression, which may reduce the signs and symptoms of heart disease.
Intimacy Creates a Deeper Connection with your Partner: When intimate, chemicals like oxytocin are released which make you feel closer to your significant other. Frequent intimacy can strengthen and improve this connection which in turn leaves you feeling more fulfilled.
Intimacy Improves Heart Health: According to a study published in Biol Psychol in February 2006, men who engaged in sex regularly (at least two times a week) were 45% less likely to develop heart disease, as opposed to those who did so once a month or less. Intimacy can not only provide the same benefits to your heart as exercise does, but it can also keep estrogen and testosterone levels in balance which is crucial for good heart health.
Love Improves Sleep: Sleeping next to someone that you care for and love can not only help you to feel more relaxed but can help you to sleep better as well. Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh believe that sleeping next to someone helps to lower the stress hormone cortisol, which can encourage feelings of safety and security.
In the end, it all comes back to that personal connection. Love is an amazing feeling and intimacy is a great source for adding pleasure into your life. Aside from the added health benefits, you are building trust with yourself and others, as well as strengthening emotional bonds with your partner. When you love and respect yourself, it spreads to your loved ones.
Add more intimacy and love to your life today! Hug someone you love, share a passionate kiss with your significant other, and maybe go and spend some quality time between the sheets!
Private Member |
seattle, washington
As insane as it sounds now when I was born there was this idea that was popular that it was better for children and new born to not cuddle or hold them. Fortuantely for me my Mom didn’t listen to this. But science can have things wrong and people will blindly follow crazy stuff.
Private Member |
I know about this old belief, and unfortunately it effected my mom very badly as his father totally adored her yet never really told it, hugged or kissed her or so, so she always struggled with believing she was loved.
Private Member |
seattle, washington
That was the sad part of the whole idea it hurt millions of people. And just looking at any other mammal and you would see a close bond with their offspring.
Private Member |
blaustein, germany
Hello Chris, how are things in Seattle? I have a residence in Eugene Or. So I know that part of the country. I have seen and read your comments. Always thoughful👍🏾.
Cuddling, showing love ❤️, what’s wrong with that? Absolutely nothing. Some of us don’t have the ability to even say hello to one another let alone kiss or hug. I believe that there is a mistrust that some of us have that prevents us from loving. You are right when you say “crazy stuff”. The notion that showing affection is bad, taboo. Fortunately you can go out into the world and spread some love.
Take care! And enjoy the pacific west coast for me!
Private Member |
seattle, washington
Yes, having a big heart can at times be painful. Especially when someone you care a lot about acts like a turd…naming nobody here… Something I’ve noticed is Zuzka’s fans sometimes seem to have a reluctance to acknowledge she has a libido and desires intimacy. This is an interesting subject and a well thought out article. I wish fans would express their views on the health benefits of having partner with all the stuff that goes along with it… 😁
Private Member |
Yes!
Private Member |
Its nice to hear this advice from a woman! All the articles I’ve come across in magazines or blogs are written by men and it kinda creeps me out. No offense to men, but we get objectified enough as it is and don’t need to hear another “evolutionary” reason men want to have sex. Its also nice to hear this from an evolved perspective, when I hear it from the male desire viewpoint it sounds very base, like another excuse if you know what I mean.
Also with the affection thing, its fine with me as long as I do not see it. Some of my earliest memories are of feeling extremely uncomfortable around adults that snog and hang all over each other in public displays of affection. Kids can see this too! And boy is it creepy. It’s like have some discretion, will ya!
When I had a dog, he sensed how uncomfortable my mother and I were around men, and if any would go to hug or touch us (something I never liked, despite it becoming acceptable in America to greet with hugs and touching) my dog would immediately bark and jump and attack the man in our defense. Lol, I loved my dog! He would not do that with men we liked though, in that case he’d jump all over the man and try to play with him.
Is touching a part of the Czech culture Zuzka? Here in America we do not touch each other at all. I prefer it that way to be honest lol. I’ve had some friends from South America that are affectionate and as long as they are women I don’t mind. If it’s an American though, it comes across as touchy-feely and weird, like they’re plotting something lol.