Published: 14/02/2020 By The Abode Team
As it’s Valentine’s day today let’s talk about kissing!It is of course a way to show your passion for your significant other, but did you know it has scientifically proven health benefits too? According to experts, locking lips can do everything from improving your immunity to protecting against tooth decay. Added to that it’s the perfect way to keep stress levels down and your mood high. So whether it’s cuddling up on the sofa with your significant other, or making the move with someone new, here’s a whole list of incentives (as if you needed extra) to get smooching.
It helps you lose weight (sort of)
Obviously kissing may not burn as many calories as hitting the treadmill, but it can pump up your metabolism to about twice its usual rate. A study by Dr. Alexander DeWees revealed that a passionate kiss, lasting about twenty seconds, can burn up to two to three calories per minute, which is 180 calories if you keep it up for an hour. OK, so you won't want to completely swap jogging for snogging, but next time you’re lounging on the sofa watching the TV, why not go in for a calorie-burning kiss.
Improves oral health
A kiss a day keeps the dentist away. Well, in a manner of speaking. Kissing increases saliva production and this saliva washes away bacteria that can cause cavities, tooth decay, and plaque build-up. “It’s no exaggeration to say that saliva is your mouth’s most powerful defence against tooth decay,” explains a dental expert. “A dry mouth can not only lead to cavities, it can also cause bad breath and, far more seriously, gum disease. Saliva helps to clear food residue from your teeth, and while this isn’t something you want to think about when sharing a kiss with someone, it stands to reason that the increased saliva production can only be good for your oral health.” But before you cancel that dentist appointment consider that cavity-causing bacteria can also be transmitted via a snog, especially if the person you’re locking lips with has poor oral habits. But then you probably wouldn’t want to be kissing them in the first place, right?
Keeps your heart healthy
A good smooch can help keep your blood pressure and cholesterol level low. One of the results of a good kiss, is that our blood vessels dilate, bringing blood pressure back down to where it should be. A study of cohabiting and married couples found increased frequency of kissing lead to decreased stress, increased relationship satisfaction, and decreased cholesterol levels. And since stress is a well-known risk factor for heart disease, kissing can help to keep your ticker healthy.
Tones your facial muscles
While a quick peck uses only a couple of facial muscles, a vigorous kiss engages a whopping 29 facial muscles - plus 100 others in the body. So, if you fear you’re beginning to suffer the curse of the saggy jowels, try tightening things up with some regular vigorous kissing.
Decreases stress
Stressful day in the office? Ease away the tension with a good old smooch. When kissing, the chemical reactions which are triggered by touch, intimacy and the act of kissing has been shown to cause a drop in cortisol levels, cortisol is released in response to stress by the adrenal cortex, which can be naturally combatted by the simple act of kissing.
Makes you happy
A good lip-lock prompts the brain to release a happy little mix of feel-good chemicals like dopamine, which is responsible for feelings of desire and bonding, serotonin that elevates your mood and oxytocin. Dopamine is associated with the feeling of reward and elation, and this has been shown to spike during a kiss and science has proven that serotonin, which is responsible for balancing your mood is also released when kissing. A deficiency is serotonin can lead to depression and it is important chemical in regulating wellbeing. This heady mix, designed to make you feel good and want more, is all the more reason to invest in kissing time.
Decreases pain
During a passion-punching heart-racer of a kiss, your body releases adrenaline, which can actually reduce feelings of pain. Team that with the similarly pain-reducing endorphins that are released during physical intimacy, and locking lips gives you a double hit to fight that nagging tummy ache.