Im just gonna keep it real! (Sex-ercise!)

Of course sex is healthy, but did you know that a good sex life can provide

specific health benefits? We spoke to the experts to find out just how sex
improves our health (not that you needed any convincing).



1. It May Make You Thinner

Dread working out? Don’t break

up with your treadmill just yet. But if it’s late and you haven’t made it to the

gym, don’t forget that sex counts as exercise, too! “Sex burns between 75 and

150 calories per half-hour,” says Desmond Ebanks, MD, founder and medical

director of Alternity Healthcare in West Hartford, Connecticut. It’s comparable

to other physical activities, he says, like yoga (114 calories per half-hour),

dancing (129 calories per half-hour) or walking (153 calories per half-hour).




Bonus: Sex may also help your muscles stay lean in the process. “Sexual

arousal and orgasm releases the hormone testosterone, which, among other things,
is necessary to build and maintain bone and lean muscle tissue,” he adds.



2. It May Improve Your Heart Health

You’re probably

already aware that heart disease is the number-one killer of women. Eating a

healthy diet, and keeping your cholesterol low and sodium in check are great

ways to stay on top of heart health, but so is having sex. “Sex is exercise that

raises heart rate and blood flow,” says Dr. Ebanks. “In a study published in the

Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, researchers found that

having sex twice or more a week reduced the risk of fatal heart attack by half.”

While the study results were focused on men, Dr. Ebanks suspects similar effects
for women, too.



3. It Can Help You Get a Better Night’s Sleep

What do you

do to help you sleep? When chamomile tea and other remedies aren’t doing the

job, sex may help—especially if you’re having trouble sleeping due to anxiety or

stress. “People having frequent sex often report that they handle stress

better,” notes Dr. Ebanks. “The profound relaxation that typically follows

orgasm for women and ejaculation or orgasm for men may be one of the few times

people actually allow themselves to completely relax. Many indicate that they
sleep more deeply and restfully after satisfying lovemaking.”



4. It Can Boost Your Immune System

With all the concerns

about cold and flu viruses, combating germs can sometimes feel like a full-time

job. Surprisingly, there may be something you can do in the bedroom to keep your

immune system strong, says Dr. Ebanks, who points to a study by researchers at

Wilkes University in Pennsylvania. “Individuals who have sex once or twice a

week show 30 percent higher levels of an antibody called immunoglobulin A, which

is known to boost the immune system,” he says. So, make this your new

cold-and-flu season mantra: Wash your hands and make a bedroom date with your
sweetie—often!



5. It Can Improve Your Mental Health

The quickest way to

boost your mood, fight depression and beat anxiety? Patricia Tan, MD, a

board-certified internist in Arizona and medical expert for JustAnswer.com, says the

answer is simple: sex (in a loving, committed relationship, of course).

“Psychologically, sex improves one’s mental health by building intimacy and

reducing stress,” she says. “The stress reduction component lowers a person's

cortisol level, thereby reducing the chances of increased blood pressure,
hyperglycemia and increased acidity in the abdomen.”



6. It Can Help Relieve Pain

You might change “Not

tonight, honey, I have a headache” to “Yes, tonight, honey, I have a headache,”

or so says Dr. Ebanks, who believes there’s a real correlation between sex and

pain management. “Through sexual arousal and orgasm the hormone oxytocin is

secreted in your body, which in turn causes the release of endorphins,” he

explains. “Because of these natural opiates, sex acts as a powerful
analgesic.”



7. It Can Help You with Bladder Control

It may sound

weird—the idea that sex can help you minimize incontinence—but it’s true, say

experts. Sex therapists have long recommended that women do Kegel exercises

(flexing the muscles in your pelvic floor) throughout the day, but also during

sex. Why? Not only can the exercises help increase pleasure, they also

strengthen the muscles associated with incontinence. You can do Kegels anywhere

(including during intercourse), so don’t be shy! Gently flex and tighten your

pelvic floor muscles in the same way you would to stop the flow of urine. Hold
for three seconds, then release.



8. It May Give You Healthier Skin

Could sex make you more

beautiful? It sounds far-fetched, but Eric Braverman, MD, founder of PATH

Medical Center in New York City, says having sex releases a key compound in the

body that is good for all kinds of things—including improving your complexion.

During sex, your body produces a hormone called DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone).

“It can boost the immune system, give you healthier skin and even decrease
depression,” he says. So much for the $79 night cream!