Sex: The Most Underrated Exercise?

When people think of working out, they may think of exercises like jogging on the treadmill, lifting weights, or swimming. These exercises get the heart rate up and have many health benefits, but they aren’t the only way to get a good workout. Sex with a partner is another form of exercise that has many amazing health benefits as well, but can be a lot more fun!

Health Benefits of Sex
Sex isn’t viewed as exercise, but it has many of the same benefits as traditional exercise:

Stress Relief. Sex is a natural way to regulate anxiety. During sex, the brain releases endorphins such as serotonin which can help heal depression and clear the mind. Another hormone released during sex is oxytocin, which lowers our defenses and makes us more trusting. Men also receive a rush of dopamine, which is a pleasure hormone.

Heart health. Sex on a regular basis keeps testosterone and estrogen levels balanced, which may help decrease the risk of heart disease and osteoporosis. A Study in the American Journal of Cardiology found that men who had sex twice a week were half as likely to die of a heart attack compared to men who had sex less often.¹

Better Sleep. Feel sleepy after good sex? That’s because the hormone prolactin is released after an orgasm, which causes feelings of relaxation and sleepiness.

Pain relief. Pain thresholds are increased during orgasms, and when dopamine, endorphins, and serotonin enter the bloodstream, they increase pleasure sensations and decrease pain sensations simultaneously. The following ailments can be helped with sex:

Headaches. A study published in the journal Cephalalgia found that orgasms can help alleviate migraine pain and cluster headaches.
PMS cramps. Orgasms cause an increase in blood flow in the uterus, helping to ease cramps and relieve pain naturally.

Decreased blood pressure. A European study conducted on healthy men and women found that as the frequency of sex increased, their blood pressure proportionately decreased.

Calories Burned During Sex In addition to these great benefits, sex is a fun way to burn calories. Here are the approximate calories burned when having passionate and intense sex by position for the average man and woman

In addition to the calories above, a single orgasm can burn an additional 60-80 calories! Looking for a fun way to burn calories? Hot, passionate sex with a partner may be just what the doctor ordered.