3 Ways Sex Is Good For Our Brain
Sex is a big part of a healthy, committed relationship and yet in many ways, it’s considered a taboo subject to talk about. But sex is an important aspect in building intimacy and cementing our bond with our spouse. It’s also vital in maintaining a healthy brain.
1- Sharper Smarts
There are actually a few ways sex makes us smarter. First, sex activates our entire brain. When we do brain exercises like crossword puzzles, sudoku, or even playing chess, only certain areas of our brain are working. But sex lights up our entire grey matter, making it a far more effective way to maintain our cognitive health. In addition, sex boosts our analytical skills. When we’re engaged in sexual activity, our brain is focused on the present moment. That type of focus actually sharpens concrete thinking, verbal and visual fluency, visuospatial processing, and even language skills.
2- Improves Memory
It turns out that having sex stimulates new brain cell growth, primarily in the hippocampus. This part of the brain is vital in memory and information retention. When tested, sexually active individuals tested better with word recall and had stronger results with visual and verbal recognition as well. Studies have shown that couples who have healthy sex lives as they age also show slower memory decline.
3- Major Mood Boost
The most well-known brain reaction to having sex is how it makes us feel good. This is due to the release of powerful neurochemicals such as dopamine, oxytocin, vasopressin, serotonin, and norepinephrine. These chemicals are a power-punch to our system helping us bond with our partner, but also elevating our mood. Often when our brain releases oxytocin, we get a boost of melatonin, a neurochemical that works to lower our cortisol levels, thereby reducing our stress and anxiety. Further, sexual intercourse also lowers our blood pressure by increasing blood flow throughout our bodies. This helps not only heart health but with pumping higher levels of oxygenated blood to our brain.
Conclusion
Sex has enormous benefits for our body and mind. It activates our entire brain while also stimulating the release of incredible feel-good hormones at the same time. Having sex can increase our cognitive capabilities, grow new brain cells, improve our memory, and help maintain overall body and brain health.
