So Fit Ones it turns out there is more to kissing than just having fun! It is actually benefitting you in more ways than one! Here are 6 ways from Match.com that kissing will not only give you those butterflies and googly eyes it will lead to a happier and healthier life and here’s how…..
#1 It keeps those pearly whites pearly:
kissing can break down oral plaque and prevent cavities by stimulating the creation of saliva, which helps wash bacteria away from the tooth’s surface. “Kissing is nature’s cleansing process,” says Heidi Hausauer, spokesperson for the Academy of General Dentistry. “Saliva washes out the mouth and helps remove the cavity-causing food particles that accumulate after meals.” The minerals in saliva also help rebuild tooth enamel, thereby preventing decay. So not only does kissing give you cleaner teeth, but you could actually end up saving money on your dental bills, too.
#2 Look Ten Years Younger:
loving couples still retain an air of youth, even as they grow older? The answer could be down to frequent kissing. Sex therapist and author Dr. Ava Cadell notes that “kissing can give you a facelift. We use over 30 facial muscles while kissing, which helps to keep muscles smooth and tight and prevents your cheeks from sagging.” Laurel House, author of QuickieChick’s Cheat Sheet to Life, Love, Food, Fitness, Fashion and Finance — on a Less-Than-Fabulous Budget, also likens kissing to a toning session for your face: “Like working out the muscles in your abs, working out your facial muscles can help tone and tighten them, minimizing the visible signs of aging.”
#3 It Speeds up the Metabolism –
In addition to providing a facial workout, kissing can also help you lose inches from your waistline, too. As you lean in for the kiss, you may feel as though your heart’s racing. It’s not just your imagination; it is beating faster. “As the heart beats faster, it releases adrenaline and other neurotransmitters in the blood. The boost in adrenaline increases your metabolism and helps burn extra calories,” says Dr. Varnado.
During a really passionate kiss, you can burn anywhere from two to five calories per minute, which is double your normal resting rate. Dr. Cadell put this to the test on the TV show, The Doctors. By hooking a kissing couple up to a heart monitor and calorie counters, Dr. Cadell found that over the course of an hour, they burned a combined total of 575 calories — or 287.5 calories each.
#4 Its an Immune Booster …
“Swapping spit means swapping germs, and that is nature’s natural form of vaccination,” explains Dr. Varnado. “Being exposed to others’ germs causes your body makes antibodies against those germs, which can in turn lead to immunity and prevent illness.” This all holds true as long as you’re not kissing anyone with any diseases or cold sores present in his or her mouth, so make sure the object of your affection isn’t coming down with the flu before you pucker up.
#5 Stay Happy and Stress Free …
Ever notice how you feel after a good make-out session? It’s like you’re floating on cloud nine, all your cares melt away, and you feel like you could do anything. That’s because kissing releases nature’s antidepressant, oxytocin. Dr. Joshua Gizersky, founder and medical director of Vitality Logix Internal Medicine, says that “a passionate kiss will spike oxytocin, leading to better sex and orgasm.”
But kissing doesn’t just increase the production of feel-good chemicals in our bodies — it lowers our cortisol and cholesterol levels, too. “A study of cohabiting and married couples showed that an increased frequency of kissing decreases stress and cholesterol levels. Stress is a well-known risk factor for heart disease,” says Dr. Varnado. And a healthy heart means a longer life!
#6 Kissing Relieves Pain….
kissing provides a natural form of pain relief. Before reaching for an aspirin the next time you’ve got a headache, grab your honey and lay on a big smooch instead. Dr. Varnado notes that “kissing releases natural chemicals in the body called endorphins, which can be more powerful than morphine to relieve pain” — without the all the negative side effects of using a narcotic, of course.
It seems that you already have all the tools and chemicals necessary to improve your health, feel better, and manage stress… right inside your own body. And all you need to do is plant a few kisses first!
So now you have wonderful reasons to kiss that special someone in your life. If you don’t have one…. find one, and explain to them all the wonderful benefits they will get from puckering up!
3…2….1… SMOOCH!
Fit Chic