Eight Good Reasons to Make Love

By Dr. W. Gifford Jones

April 26, 2005

Are you fed up reading about war, our failing health care system and crooked CEOs? If so, let's discuss a more pleasant topic, the way to ensure a long and healthy life. Some are convinced that jogging, a variety of diets or a daily glass of red wine is the answer. But what about sex? The fact is that making love is downright good for you. Here are eight reasons why you should put more amore into your life.

It's Good Exercise

Since making love involves some interesting acrobatics, having sex three times a week burns about 7,500 calories in a year. This is the equivalent of jogging 75 miles! And vigorous sex consumes up to 200 calories each time. At three times a week this activity consumes 31,000 calories a year, the same as 300 miles of jogging. Given this choice, why would anyone want to jog? After all, making love is usually a pleasant pastime. But have you ever seen joggers smiling? They look like they're about to take their last breath.

Decreases the Risk of Dying

It's been said that Europeans have sex lives, the English have hot water bottles! But what about the Irish? Researchers at Queens University in Belfast, Ireland, tracked the mortality of 1,000 middle-aged men over the course of 10 years. They reported in the British Medical Journal that men who had the highest frequency of sex enjoyed a death rate 50 percent lower than those who were less sexually active. The French, unlike the Irish, don't need a scientific study to reach this conclusion. They call orgasm, "la petite mort", or the little death. But they are quick to add that a little death now and then can help to postpone the big one! As I examine this research sex seems a small price to pay for extending one's life!

Reduced Risk of Heart Disease

Another study at Queen's University showed that sex improves cardiovascular health. Men who were having sex three or more times a week cut their risk of heart attack in half. Shah Ebrahim, co-author of this study, displayed the British gift of understatement when he remarked, "The relationship between frequency of sexual intercourse and mortality is of considerable public interest". And, I would add, of great personal interest.

Pain Relief

Dr BeverlyWhipple, Associate Professor at Rutgers University, says sex can help to relieve the pain of arthritis, whiplash and other injuries. During sexual intercourse, levels of the hormone oxytocin surge to five times their normal level. This in turn releases endorphins, the body's own morphine. So for those who complain of headache, have sex and the pain may be gone after it.

Prevents Chronic Prostatitis,

During orgasm the muscles around the prostate gland contract pushing out prostate fluid which keeps the gland healthy. It's often said "use it or lose it". But lack of use may also cause chronic prostatitis, an enlargement of the gland associated with annoying chronic pain in the rectal area.

Less Frequent Colds

Wilkes University in Pennsylvania claims that individuals who have sex once or twice a week show 30 percent higher levels of an antibody called immunoglobulin A, which is known to boost the immune system.

Relieves Stress

Today too many people are reaching for anti-depressants and sleeping pills to treat anxiety and insomnia. But such medication often causes side effects. They forget the remedy may be found in the bedroom. Normal sex is 100 percent natural, without side effects, lessens tension and encourages sleep.

Bonds Couples

I often tell patients that sex is only five percent of a marriage, but the first five percent. For years young couples have been led to believe that having husbands participate in birth in delivery rooms bonds a marriage. I have always felt (although few agree with me) that this practice is scientific nonsense. The idea was initially started as a marketing device by some U.S hospitals and later the folly spread to Canada. Now, of course, we see marriages, supposedly bonded in Labour rooms, breaking apart. So much for that experiment. A good sex life does more to bond a marriage than witnessing a 1,000 baby deliveries.

W. Gifford-Jones M.D is the pen name of Dr. Ken Walker graduate of Harvard. Dr. Walker's website is: Docgiff.com

My book, �90 + How I Got There� can be obtained by sending $19.95 to:

Giff Holdings, 525 Balliol St, Unit # 6,Toronto, Ontario, M4S 1E1

Pre-2008 articles by Gifford Jones

Canada Free Press, CFP Editor Judi McLeod