6 Health Benefits Of Sex

By Ian Kerner, Ph.D

I often write about the benefits of a healthy sex life in this column, and my colleagues and I at Good in Bed are big champions of the importance of sex in maintaining a healthy relationship.

But there are some more surprising benefits of having sex, many of which are just beginning to be explored. An intriguing theme is emerging from the research: Not only does being healthy support your sex life, but sex actually supports your health.

So forget about an apple a day. To feel healthier, look younger, and live longer, an orgasm or two a week may be an effective -- and certainly enjoyable -- remedy.

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A long-term study of 3,500 people between the ages of 30 and 101 found that regular sex may shave between four and seven years off your physical appearance. Researchers at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital in Scotland presented photos of the subjects to an impartial panel of judges, who were asked to guess their ages. The people who were judged to be the youngest were also those who had the most sex. What's the connection between youthfulness and getting it on? In addition to boosting self-esteem and confidence, sex increases the production of human growth hormone, which is known to improve muscle tone. More from Aol.Health: 8 Tricks to Add Years to Your Life The Sneaky Reasons You're Not Losing Weight Have Better Sex as You Age

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A long-term study of 3,500 people between the ages of 30 and 101 found that regular sex may shave between four and seven years off your physical appearance. Researchers at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital in Scotland presented photos of the subjects to an impartial panel of judges, who were asked to guess their ages.

The people who were judged to be the youngest were also those who had the most sex. What's the connection between youthfulness and getting it on? In addition to boosting self-esteem and confidence, sex increases the production of human growth hormone, which is known to improve muscle tone.

More from Aol.Health:
8 Tricks to Add Years to Your Life
The Sneaky Reasons You're Not Losing Weight
Have Better Sex as You Age

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Ian Kerner, Ph.D, is a sexuality counselor and New York Times best-selling author of numerous books for Harper Collins, including She Comes First and Love in the Time of Colic. He appears frequently on the TODAY Show and CBS Early Show and lives his wife and two boys in New York City. He holds advanced degrees from New York University and is certified by the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists. For more, reach Ian Kerner at iankerner.com.

Comments

[Edgar Franco]

12:24 PM on 03/02/2011

agree:) but try telling my wife this and i'll hav to put it on ''ICE" feel me??lol

[Margie Kronewitter]

08:34 AM on 02/17/2011

First sex ed I remember was my Mammy said, "Sex is beautiful. God gave us sex to take the edge off parenthood" or something like that. 8~)

[jo smith456]

07:29 PM on 02/15/2011

Now I know why this guy Berlusconi is out of control!!!

[KeepLeft]

03:44 PM on 02/15/2011

you don't go blind...non-hairy palms...

[Steve Rockett]

03:37 PM on 02/15/2011

Sex can shorten your lifespan if her husband comes home early.

[lyingtruth]

02:34 AM on 02/16/2011

Good one...! fanned

[RLL88]

12:56 PM on 02/14/2011

Maybe it's the other way around: Younger-looking people have more sex because...they're younger-looking! Correlation is not causation.

[Steve Rockett]

03:37 PM on 02/15/2011

Hmmm, who cares why, just enjoy!

[UpBone]

03:45 PM on 02/13/2011

See, there are benefits to Craigslist.

[mullerpaulm]

11:13 PM on 02/11/2011

A Seventh for older men is that regular emptying of the prostate may slow enlargement compared with those who don't. If a partner is not available, there is an alternative!

[Gigity]

11:48 AM on 02/11/2011

Coming feels good. Feeling good is good. Benefit!

[Hank26]

11:15 PM on 02/10/2011

The Walmart in my small town can't keep enough batteries on the shelf for me.

[french queen13]

07:59 PM on 02/10/2011

"Having sex" or "making love"?

I want nothing to do with the former.

[Fucue]

08:26 PM on 02/10/2011

Why?

[Steve Rockett]

03:39 PM on 02/15/2011

How sad.

[the-lexicon]

03:45 PM on 02/10/2011

Now, if only we can start the rumor that ingesting male ejaculate solves some major female health issue. Like, maybe...diverticulitis. Ladies, don't get caught with a nasty case of diverticulitis...there's an easy, fun way to prevent it!

[suds mcduff]

02:43 PM on 02/14/2011

I had a GF who swore by it as a face cream....

[Margie Kronewitter]

08:11 AM on 02/17/2011

Zinc in absorbed vaginally. The symptoms of zinc deficiency were known as "Old Maid's Disease". Now we have penny pills to relieve the craving caused by zinc deficiency. 8~) I made that up..... the cure the craving part.

[James Napoli]

03:28 PM on 02/10/2011

No wonder Don Draper can drink so much and never get sick!

[bbertaud]

02:10 PM on 02/10/2011

Now I see why I am sooo healthy....