We often assume that something that feels good can't possibly be good for us. It's time to turn that logic on its head, because guess what? (Safe) sex is good for you.

Touch Heals

The chemical composition of your body is changed by being touched: caressing, hugging, stroking, and cuddling send a chain reaction of chemicals that strengthen emotional bonds and improve overall health.

Lose Weight & Lower Cholesterol by Having Sex

On average, engaging in sex for one half hour burns approximately 150 calories. Compare that to calories burned during one half hour of some other activities that may be part of your daily fitness regime:

• Housework (111 calories)
• Yoga (114 calories)
• Rigorous dancing (129 calories)
• Walking briskly (150 calories)
• Weight training 153 (calories)
• Running (190 calories)
• Swimming (195 calories)
• Also, as a legitimate form of exercise, sex helps lower the overall cholesterol level, tipping the HDL/LDL (good/bad) cholesterol balance towards the healthier HDL side.

Sexual Activity Improves Circulation

Deep breathing and increased heart rate during sex helps increase the blood flow to your brain and to all other organs of your body. Improved circulation helps to supply cells and tissues with fresh oxygen, nutrients and hormones, as well as increasing the rate at which waste products (responsible for cell deterioration, fatigue and even illness) are removed from your system.

Sex Helps You Sleep Better & Get Stress Relief

Many people indicate that they sleep more deeply and restfully after lovemaking, most likely because the relaxing afterglow helps you to chill out and let go of distracting thoughts.

Whether you are having sex with a partner or masturbating, orgasm itself can help release tension.

Sex Can Help Relieve Pain Naturally

A headache is no reason not to have sex: A healthy romp causes the release of a rush of endorphins, the body's natural opiates which act as powerful analgesics, elevating the pain threshold and helping to relieve the aches of conditions like severe headaches, menstrual cramps, arthritis, and muscle soreness.

Improve Reproductive Health by Having Sex

For You

According to a study published in 2002 by the Journal of Gynecologic and Obstetric Investigation, sexual activity might prevent endometriosis, a common gynecological condition that can lead to intense pelvic pain and even infertility.

Endometriosis occurs when the tissue lining the inside of a woman's uterus develops other places, such as on the ovaries or fallopian tubes; it is believed that menstrual debris not being adequately flushed from the system may contribute to the development of endometriosis.

The study found that women who were sexually active during menstruation were 1.5 times less likely to develop endometriosis than women who refrained from having sex during their periods.

It was also found that orgasm during menstruation also lowered the risk of developing the condition since (researchers speculated) the muscular contractions of the uterus which occur during sex, and particularly orgasm, assist in pushing menstrual debris out of the uterus and pelvic region.

For Him

Regular sexual intercourse with frequent ejaculations will help to keep the prostate healthy.  An Australian study from 2003 that found that that men in their 20s who ejaculated more then five times a week were one-third less likely to develop aggressive prostate cancer than men who ejaculated four to seven times a month. Ejaculating regularly might lower risk because cancer-causing substances get flushed out of the body in the seminal fluid, instead of staying in the prostate.

Live Healthier Longer by Having Sex

Regular sexual activity boosts testosterone and estrogen levels in both sexes. In addition to boosting your sex drive, testosterone also fortifies bones and muscles. Some physicians believe testosterone has an important role in keeping the heart healthy and good cholesterol high.

Sex increases women's estrogen levels, keeping vaginal tissues supple and also protecting against heart disease.

DHEA is a steroid hormone produced naturally by the adrenal glands that is similar structurally to testosterone, estrogen and progesterone. DHEA has a huge array of functions, one of which includes promoting sexual excitement. DHEA is secreted throughout the body during intercourse, and during orgasms or immediately prior to ejaculation its levels increase to five times normal levels.

High levels of DHEA have been associated with improved cognition, immune health, cardiovascular health, maintaining a youthful clear complexion, enhanced libido, building and repairing muscle tissue, bone growth, and warding off depression. It may also have an important role in the body's ability to burn fat.