Ask Keri: I’ve heard one benefit of sex is weight loss. Is it true?
Keri Says: I’m an open book, put-it-all-out-there kind of person with most things. But I am not a, “hey peeps, let’s chat about sex” kind of free spirit. Sex is personal and everyone has different boundaries with this topic.
However, the benefits of sex are so important that I refuse to let my own bit of—shall I say—awkwardness keep me from spreading the “Love More” message and discussing sex with my clients.
Sex is part of everyone’s wellness. “Love More” is a pillar of Nutritious Life for this very reason: Lovin’ is great for your body. It is the yin (oxytocin) to the yang (cortisol) of stress. It helps you escape the negatives in life and makes you feel good. I want you to feel good. Feeling good helps motivate you to make healthy decisions in all areas of your life.
So, let’s talk about sex and how it can truly help you live your most Nutritious Life.
4 Benefits of Sex You Should Know About
Sex is a great way to lose weight, which is why I always discuss it with my clients. I know, not the conversation you think you’ll be having when meeting with a nutritionist, right? Well, cortisol is a hormone that makes your body hold onto weight around the middle, and the best way to reduce cortisol is with its arch nemesis, oxytocin. How do you produce more oxytocin? You guessed it: by having sex. Cuddling, by the way, helps produce oxytocin too.
Orgasms help chill you out, which also helps you achieve a healthy weight. We could all use a little relaxing, after all. So how do orgasms magically do this? Once again, through oxytocin. Oxytocin floods the body with relaxation messages after orgasm, and lowers anxiety and the brain’s natural resistance responses. A big O becomes a big aaahhh.
Sex is good for your wellness. It strengthens your heart and can even improve your immune system. You knew snuggling could lead to, well, you know. But did you know it could lead to fighting diseases? If you’ve ever worried about being a superhero in bed, stop worrying. Your heart thinks you are the best.lover.ever.
Sex improves your sense of smell. After sex, there is a surge in the production of the hormone prolactin, which causes your brain’s stem cells to form new neurons in the olfactory bulb, also known as the brain’s smell center. Not only is your sniffer gonna thank you, but now you have a fun fact to share at your next cocktail party.
Well, I think I’ve covered all the bases (get it? bases? sex joke?). Eat a healthy diet, hit the gym, make love, repeat. And don’t worry if you only have time for a quickie. The benefits of sex last way longer.