don's report archive

by Donald B. Ardell, Ph. D.

Wellness in the Headlines
(Don's Report to the World)

Sex is a thermonuclear topic, one that interests everyone but is avoided in polite society and in church, unless of course it's a Catholic church, in which case it is not avoided in the least -- it is consistently denounced. Yet, we all love sex, some unconsciously. Sadly, only a rare few have avoided grief from having sex or attempting to have it, or just thinking about it. Why? The answer in a word is religion.

Sex has approved forms and forbidden forms -- the latter far outnumber the former. In some places, having sex can lead to prosecutions if not persecutions; in others, having it can lead to cataclysmic physical sensations that are said to be better than drugs. I don't know about that -- I haven't tried drugs.

Now comes welcome news about sex based on the latest scientific studies. It seems that if you do it right, sex can not just make you feel good all over and in some parts in particular, but can burn calories, reduce stress and lower health risks. And that's just for starters. It can also enable better sleep patterns, strengthen your immune system and increase your ability to do math in your head, that is, without a calculator or pen and paper. Alas, it's still not a panacea, for no empirical data exists to suggest that sexual activity boosts hair growth on the top of aging male heads.

Sex is also useful for weight management, as moving around in an altered state of excitement burns calories and fat. If you can keep it up (so to speak) for at least 30 minutes, you can go through 85 calories or more. And that's at a moderate pace.

A recent article in the Archives of Sexual Behavior summarized research done at the University of Texas that seemed to offer no fewer than 237 reasons to engage in sex. 

How does this wondrous activity do so much that is so good and yet cause or at least precipitate widespread controversy and grief in cultures worldwide? The answer to the latter part of that question is quite simple and can be summed up in one word - religion. Explaining the former, that is, the benefits, is a bit more complex.

For starters, sexual activity releases endorphins, those mood-enhancing chemicals, such as immunoglobulin A, or IgA and protects against colds and other infections, except covert tendencies to vote Republican. (Overcoming the latter usually requires in-depth psychiatric sessions over long time periods.) Assuming you are not distracted by guilt or worried about getting caught having sex with someone in a socially frowned upon circumstance (for example, doing it with a goat or non-consenting member of your own species), sex generally improves body image and self-esteem, lowers anxiety and makes you less crazy, if so inclined (for example, depressed or suicidal).

Are you familiar with the hormone oxytocin? It's a hormone released by orgasms associated with enjoyable physical and psychological experiences. The surge in oxytocin accompanying orgasm facilitates the onset of sleep. This hormone is widely recognized as a natural sedative.

Some of the by-products of sex are also beneficial. Touching, for instance, has been shown to have a calming effect by reducing cortisol levels. This fact about touching, of course, is true even when people are wearing clothes and sex is not on the agenda. If you genuinely like the person being touched, the positive effects are even greater. So, consider going out of your way today to touch someone you like but, if there's no one around who fits that bill, touch anyone (get permission first) -- it's good for you.

Older men should know about an Australian study reported in the British Journal of Urology International (I'm not implying that this information be kept from younger men.) It seems that frequent ejaculations (five per week) are strongly associated with lower risks for prostate cancer. Which raises the question: Why, then, does Medicare not pay for hand jobs? There is, of course, a one-word answer - religion.

A 1989 French study tied sexual activity to lower rates of breast cancer in women. Other investigations link higher levels of sexuality in women with fewer cases of sensitivity to lower back and other pains, migraine headaches, arthritis and PMS. So, why are women not encouraged to have more sex? By now, I think you know my theory about the one-word answer to such questions.

Be well. Always look on the bright side of life.
(Note:  This essay will be filed in the archives in the MENTAL DOMAIN under the skill area of relationships.  Additional articles related to this theme may be found there. For more on the above noted studies and information about additional research concerning the known benefits of sexual activity, see "Could sex save your life?" by Dan Roberts in The Independent, July 1, 2008.)
 

(Note: This essay will be filed in the archives in the MENTAL DOMAIN under the skill area of relationships. Additional articles related to this theme may be found there.)

(Ed. Note: Views expressed in this and other columns are those of the author and not necessarily those of the SeekWellness Editorial Board.)

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