Let's Talk About Sex

There are many benefits to gettin’ busy. Sneha Mahale lists them, from the obvious to WTF.

- Sneha Mahale

Getting frisky. Making love. Hooking up. No matter what you choose to call it, the hope is that it ends with the Big O. And why not? But there are other perks of sex. When you are in a sexy mood, the last thing on your mind is fighting the sniffles or alleviating ‘thattime-of-the-month’ pain. But that’s exactly what sex does! And more!

“Sex is relaxing, emotionally and physically. After the act, our body secretes chemicals that are known to calm the mind and the body’s muscles. As physicians, we consider sex as the mark of a healthy lifestyle. If you are sexually active, it shows that you are mentally and physically sound,” says Dr Bipeenchandra Bhamre, cardiac surgeon at the Sir H. N. Reliance Foundation Hospital and Research Centre in Mumbai.

Consider it doctor’s orders to have sex more often. Here’s why.

BOOSTS IMMUNITY

People who have sex once or twice a week have higher immunoglobulin A (IgA) levels, according to researchers at the Wilkes University in Pennsylvania. “Sex improves the body’s ability to create antibodies against viruses, bacteria and germs causing common diseases,” says Dr Mohan Thomas, senior cosmetic surgeon, Cosmetic Surgery Institute, Mumbai. These antibodies—the body’s first line of defence against diseases—form a barrier against invading viruses and bacteria. It boosts the immune system and you fall sick less frequently. So, go easy on the vitamin C supplements and garlic consumption during the rainy season, and have more sex instead. Isn’t that a nicer way of staving off a cold?

A POWERFUL STRESS RELIEVER