Article
Staying Young With Sex!
Mid-life sex... possible or problematic? Many believe
that a decrease in sexual appetite is normal as one
ages. Some say that once people reach 50 years of age,
they do not place the same importance on sexual relations.
For many, a decline in libido is not necessarily optional.
Sex, even great sex, is not only possible during mid-life,
it is actually encouraged by many doctors across the
country. Having sex may add years to your life by helping
to improve your health in three major ways:
One:
The link to anti-aging
Can
you add years to your life by staying in bed? Dr.
Michael Roizen of the University of Chicago says yes!
He coauthored Real Age: Are You as Young as You Can
Be? (Harper Collins, 1999) and has reviewed more than
25,000 case studies concerning lifestyle and longevity.
He estimates that it could be possible to add two
years to your life by "connecting" with
your mate just twice a week.
Two:
Sex reduces stress
Dr.
E. Hallowell, Director of the Hallowell Center for
Cognitive and Emotional Health, tells his patients
to have sex if conventional exercise is difficult
for them. He says that a daily half hour of exercise,
of any type, can greatly reduce stress and tension.
A recent study conducted by Johns Hopkins University
and the University of Wisconsin reported "just
thinking about sexual activity reduces anxiety."
Three:
Better brain function
During
the act of sex, chemicals are released in the brain
that help brain cells produce new dendrites (the filaments
attached to nerve cells which allow neurons to communicate).
These dendrites affect memory retention. Dr. Lawrence
Katz, Professor of Neurobiology at Duke University
Medical Center, uses this neurological phenomenon
to explain why people who are sexually active learn
better than those who are not. He also recommends
variation in your sex life in order to "experience
things in a different way so your brain wakes up and
pays attention."
Dwindling
desire
The
numerous benefits a person receives from sex, both
physically and emotionally, may decline at some point.
A decreased interest in sex during mid-life can be
caused by the presence of children, high stress work
environments and even boredom. For women, menopause
may create a serious drop in sexual appetite. As men
age, they may also experience a drop in libido since
their testosterone levels decrease naturally. Barring
specific physical conditions that hinder or prevent
intercourse, recharging your sex life may be easier
than you think.
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