Ah, young love. Maybe you had your first kiss after chasing your crush on the playground. Or perhaps it was during a classic game of spin the bottle. Maybe behind the bleachers at a high school football game? However you first experienced a kiss, you probably never dreamed that it could be much more than just a sweet and enjoyable way of showing attraction.
Later on in life, you probably realized that a kiss can be many things. Loving, intense, passionate... or
awkward, boring and disappointing. But let's keep our focus on the positive aspects of kissing. Andrea Demirjian, author of Kissing: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About One of Life's Sweetest Pleasures, says that "a kiss a day really can keep the doctor away."
That's right. Kissing is good for your health! Andrea recently shared how:
1. Kissing Reduces Blood Pressure
A make-out session is an anatomical workout. "Kissing passionately gets your heartbeat revved in a healthy way that helps lower your blood pressure," Andrea said, "It dilates your blood vessels - blood is flowing in a good, solid fashion and getting to all your vital organs."2. Kissing Can Relieve Cramps and Headaches
While you might not feel up to getting handsy during your menstrual cycle, kissing can actually help relieve your cramps. Smooching can dilate blood vessels, which can help ease pain!
3. Kissing Helps Fight Cavities
There is more saliva in your mouth when you're enjoying a kiss-fest, which can help wash away the plaque on your teeth while preventing tooth decay and cavities. It may sound a bit gross, for lack of a better word. But look at the bright side — You'll save money on mouthwash!4. Kissing Makes You Happy
According to Andrea, "If you're feeling stressed or rundown, a little kissing or lovemaking is actually the elixir you need to feel better. It will relax, restore and revitalize you... The feel-good chemicals in the brain get percolation: serotonin, dopamine, oxytocin - things you can get from the rush of exercising."
5. Kissing Burns Calories
Maybe it doesn't burn as many as an actual workout. But kissing can burn about 2 calories per minute, so an intense make-out session can burn 8-16 calories. So go ahead and eat that piece of dark chocolate, you deserve it.6. Kissing Helps With Self-Esteem
In much the same way that kissing can brighten your mood, it can also raise your self-esteem. One German study found that men who got a kiss from their wives before heading into work actually made more money. Leaving home happy can reduce stress and lead to more productivity. Higher self-esteem can lead to better performance!
