The benefits of kissing

Ok, not to take all the gooey, mushy, romantic stuff out of why we love locking lips soooo much but did you know that there are real health benefits of doing it, too?
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Yep, this little pleasure does wonders for our bodies, both inside and out. These are just some of the reasons why you should plant one on the closest boy, like, now (just make sure you have kissable lips first)...
It burns calories
Well, kind of. You can’t replace your workout session with a mack-fest and expect to reap the same benefits (trust me, I’ve tried), but you can burn 8-16 calories in a minute. Wanna make out?
It reduces blood pressure and stress
Planting a smooch on someone is not just good for your emotional heart - it gives your anatomical one a workout, too. Kissing revs our heartbeat in a way that helps to lower blood pressure. On top of that, it also works hard to decrease cortisol (the stress hormone) and increase levels of serotonin (the happy hormone) in the brain. Not too shabby for a kiss, eh?
It relieves cramps and headaches
Remember when you were little, and your mum would kiss your ‘boo boo’ to make it better? Well, this might actually have some merit. You might not feel like a pash session while you’re dealing with painful menstrual cramps, but a little TLC actually goes a long way when it comes to pain relief. Kissing causes blood vessels to open wide and dilate, soothing pain or tension in the body.
It helps you bond
Whether you’re a PDA fan or not, locking lips promises to boost relationships. When we kiss, the brain releases oxytocin, popularly known as ‘the love hormone’, which is directly linked to feelings of intimacy. It’s the same hormone released when we give birth, orgasm and breastfeed. God damn, science is sexy.
It makes you happier
Even the quickest peck can trigger the release of endorphins - so pucker up, gorgeous. Research shows that kissing taps into the brain’s limbic system, unleashing fuzzy feel-good chemicals such as phenylethylamine (PEA). A natural amphetamine, it makes you feel euphoric - and ahh FYI, you can also get your hit from chocolate.
It keeps you looking young
Kissing stimulates more than 30 facial muscles, helping to smooth out lines and wrinkles, tone cheek and jaw muscles, and boost circulation to the face, leaving you with a bright, youthful glow. Come here, boy.
It combats stress
Is work getting you down? Book an appointment with your significant other for a make-out session and feel the benefits. Kissing makes you breathe more deeply, allowing your body to relax - much like meditation.
It’s good for your health
Believe it or not, sharing all that saliva is a good thing. Smooching improves immunity by releasing antibodies through a process called cross-immunotherapy. Come over here and give me a big wet one
It keeps your pearly whites, pearly white
Teeth looking pretty schmick? It’s probably all that kissing you’ve been doing. Though brushing your teeth on the reg is your best bet when it comes to maintaining pearly whites, puckering up does help to break down oral plaque and prevent cavities. The minerals in saliva help to rebuild tooth enamel, thereby preventing tooth decay. Forget apples - a kiss a day keeps the dentist away!
Did you know about these health benefits of kissing?
109 Member Comments
Well.... I know that kissing certainly relieves stress. I feel my body relax completely when I kiss. I love kissing !!! One of my favourite past times if I had half the chance !!! LOL !!! Now where's that good looking man ??? LOL !!!
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Exchanging saliva when you're " cleaning each others tonsils", helps keep your teeth healthy? Interesting - lol
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All true especially the cramps part. :) :P
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This is kinda cute!
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I have a rule, that we are not to leave each other without a kiss or go to sleep without a kiss :)
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No!! It's not good for your health - at least it's not good for mine. Whenever I've kissed a new person I end up with tonsils that are swollen up like golf balls. I don't think my body likes other people's germs lol!
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Excellent news.
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Very cute article for Valentines!
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"Kissing stimulates more than 30 facial muscles, helping to smooth out lines and wrinkles, tone cheek and jaw muscles, and boost circulation to the face, leaving you with a bright, youthful glow." What? You're going to have to really slurp away if you want to get a facial muscle workout! Ew!
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I'm lost for words.
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I never knew about all these health benefits of kissing but there's no denying it makes me feel happy <3
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I do love kissing.
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Well I knew it makes you feel happy but I didn't know the rest. Good stuff!
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YES! FISTBUMP TO THE 10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU PIC! scuse me, nostalgia bursting through there.
p.s. yes there could have been some lesbian (and gay, to cover all the bases) gifs in there. although they might have been harder to find.
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A bit disappointed that BH only used the words "boy" and "man" in this article, and also that the gifs are all of heterosexual couples. I mean, come on, some of us here like kissing girls, too!
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So similar benefits to sex? ;-)
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I love these motion captions
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Have known some of the benefits and love kissing
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oh where is my man when i need him
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Who knew kissing could have that many benefits!
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Great news for kissers!
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