Can sex help you age better?

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Dr. Mehmet Oz (aka one of Oprah’s friends and medical advisers) mentioned during a show that to maintain optimal health our bodies needed a number of important elements: food, water, sleep and sex. I totally understand the first three elements, but I was a bit taken aback by the last one. I’ve never heard anyone proclaim before that more sex can help you maintain optimum health and weight. Now, given that Dr. Oz is a top American heart surgeon and he’s certainly on Oprah’s speed dial, I had no doubt this man knew exactly what he was talking about (he is also a vice-chair of surgery and professor of cardiac surgery at Columbia University). Still, I woke up on a Sunday morning with these two questions: 1) If sex is so important in maintaining optimal health, would that hold true as we age? 2) Should sex be considered an integral part of our anti-aging regime?

I found a great article on the subject and I’ve extracted the part where they talk about the health benefits of an active sex life:

“Regular sexual activity boosts testosterone and estrogen levels in both sexes. In addition to boosting your sex drive, testosterone also fortifies bones and muscles. Some physicians believe testosterone has an important role in keeping the heart healthy and good cholesterol high.

(Safe) sex increases women’s estrogen levels, keeping vaginal tissues supple and also protecting against heart disease.

DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone) is a steroid hormone produced naturally by the adrenal glands that is similar structurally to testosterone, estrogen and progesterone. DHEA has a huge array of functions, one of which includes promoting sexual excitement. DHEA is secreted throughout the body during intercourse, and during orgasms or immediately prior to ejaculation its levels increase to five times normal levels.

High levels of DHEA have been associated with improved cognition, immune health, cardiovascular health, maintaining a youthful clear complexion, enhanced libido, building and repairing muscle tissue, bone growth, and warding off depression. It may also have an important role in the body’s ability to burn fat.” — Source: Filly.ca

If the fact that contact with your significant other’s body is not only one of the most pleasurable experiences but also good for you, now we actually have a medical reason to engage in more (safe) sex as we age!

In true Marvin Gaye fashion: “Let’s get it on”!

To read the complete article published by Filly.ca, click here: Sex: Does A Body Good.