An American couple recently resolved to have sex every day throughout December in an effort to curb their vices – his was cigarettes, hers was chocolate. (Pull the other one!) And it seems that it worked, in more ways than one. The couple did indeed find that their cravings were reduced, but in addition they also felt healthier, slept better, and avoided the horrible winter viruses that normally affect them. The results have been so successful that they are aiming to continue their “mission” into January. I bet they are, and I suspect there are a good number of additional motives that they’re not mentioning.
I reckon that it would be an absolute doddle to keep this one up, don’t you, whether you’re young, middle aged or old, especially when you consider the lengthy list of possible benefits below. Christ, sex cures all ills apparently. So here we go – sexual activity -
- Helps you live longer
- Lowers your risk of heart disease and stroke if you have sex twice a week or more
- Reduces your risk of breast cancer
- Bolsters your immune system
- Helps you sleep
- Makes you appear more youthful
- Improves your fitness
- Helps protect against endometriosis
- Enhances fertility
- Regulates menstrual cycles
- Relieves menstrual cramps
- Helps carry a pregnancy to full term
- Relieves chronic pain
- Helps reduce migraine headache pain in some individuals
- Improves quality of life
- Reduces the risk of depression
- Lowers stress levels
- Improves self esteem
- Improves intimacy with your partner
- Helps you grow spiritually (What … ?)
Could it be then, that more of us should be including sex in our list of New Year resolutions? I think so, but not just because of the personal health improvement element; that would make it a bit of a chore, like going to the gym. It should be included simply for the pure pleasure element in my view. The rest is a bonus.
It does occur to this midlife writer though – what if sex becomes an addiction, with all this increased activity, pleasure and benefits? Would that mean that next New Year I’d have yet another midlife addiction to resolve to fix, as well as my current addictions to cigarettes, alcohol and Millionaire’s Flapjack? God, I might as well book myself into rehab right now.
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