If health benefits don't make running the treadmill or jogging around the block exciting enough for you, try sex for a physical workout. The effects of an orgasm go beyond few minutes of happiness and regular orgasms can help you bring down your stress levels, get sound sleep and cut the risk of heart troubles and even cancer.
“Forget about jogging round the block or struggling with sit-ups. Sex uses every muscle group, gets the heart and lungs working hard, and burns about 300 calories an hour,” says a statement posted on the UK's National Health Service Direct Web site. The statement, called 'Get More Than Zeds In Bed', advocates 'regular bouts of sexercise' to boost health. “Orgasms can actually make you glow with health. The increased production of the hormones will make your hair shine and your skin smooth. And if you're worried about wrinkles – orgasms even help prevent frown lines from deepening,” the statement adds.
Among other benefits of a healthy sexual life is lowered risk of cancer as well as obesity. Of course, the biggest advantage is that feeling of well-being which follows a night of passion play, thanks to endorphins that are released into the blood. “Orgasms even release painkillers into the bloodstream, helping keep mild illnesses like colds and aches and pains at bay, and produce extra estrogen and testosterone. These hormones will keep your bones and muscles healthy, leaving you feeling fabulous inside and out,” the statement claims.
According to NHS Direct spokesperson Ann Grain, the article comes ahead of Valentine's Day to give the health and wellness site a broader appeal. “This isn't just a bit of fun. There are still serious messages there,” she said, adding, “We partly put it up because of the run-up to Valentine's Day.”
However, sexual health specialist Dr Melissa Sayer, though happy with the NHS' efforts to increase awareness about the benefits of sex, felt that some of the claims were a little too farfetched. “It's good to see the NHS are promoting sexual well-being. But they are making claims that can't be scientifically substantiated. Yes, there is evidence that sex has benefits for mental well-being, but to say there is a link with reduced risk of heart disease and cancer is taking the argument too far,” she said.
But Grain said that all the claims in the article were true. “Everything we write is backed by science and clinical evidence,” she asserted.
