The Beauty of Being a Woman
the ultimate self-improvement guide to fulfilling your full beauty potential
written by Kathryn Legg Flynt
for my beautiful daughter, KayLeanna,
may you always enjoy the beauty in every area of your life.
Copyright 2010 Kathryn Legg Flynt. All rights reserved.
excerpts from the chapter “The Beauty of Sex”
Let me preface this chapter by saying that after much research and study I’ve come to the conclusion and firmly believe that the emotional detriment of pre-marital sex far outweighs any physical benefit of an active sex life. Secondly, the health risks to those involved with multiple partners can cause more harm than good. Studies show the biological health benefits of sex are less common when produced in sexual relationships that introduce anxiety or fear. The benefits of sex within a secure intimate monogamous relationship can increase the health of the couple beyond the bedroom and permeate into almost every facet of their lives. With that said – if you are married and faithful to each other – sex is beautiful and healthy – ENJOY.
As an Anti-Aging Treatment: Sex results in the production of collagen – the substance, which adds smoothness and a beautiful glow to a woman’s skin. Progesterone, another hormonal product of sex, helps you fight acne. American scientists concluded as a result of their research that couples, who love each other an average of three times a week, look two or three years younger than their coevals, who either abstain from sex or hardly ever enjoy it. And the solution for postmenopausal women who suffer from “vaginal atrophy”? More intercourse. So I guess it is true – “use it or lose it”.
As Exercise: Sex is a form of aerobic exercise, and like all exercise, it burns calories. Sex uses every muscle group in the body including pelvis, buttocks, stomach and arms, and gives the heart and lungs a high-octane aerobic work-out. Also, regular love acts improve the bearing and exert a favorable influence on the musculoskeletal system. The pulse rate of a sexually excited individual increases from 70 to 150 beats per minute, which is comparable to muscle efforts of a weight-lifter. On average – thirty minutes of sex burns approximately 200 calories – about the same as running 15 minutes on a treadmill. And, because it provides a calorie-burning work-out and helps maintain a healthy weight, it will reduce your risk of diabetes too.
As a Stress Reliever: Exercise is also good for your mind. It relieves stress and elevates your mood, due to the release of endorphins. There have been other studies showing that sex boosts circulation, lowers blood pressure, and might even protect against strokes because of its stress-relieving ability.
As a Pain Reliever: Orgasm is a powerful pain-killer. Oxytocin, a natural chemical in the body that surges before and during climax, gets some of the credit, along with a couple of other compounds like endorphins – natural analogues of morphine. Sex also spurs the production of estrogen with women – the substance, which eases premenstrual pains. Researchers at Yale School of Medicine believe it could also help prevent endometriosis – a painful condition where the tissue which should line the womb grows in other parts of the pelvis.
As an Anti-Depressant: One gets into a cheerful mood during an act of love. In addition to purely psychological satisfaction, the human body produces endorphin – the hormone in charge of elevated spirits and positive perception of the environment. American psychologist Gordon Gallup reported that sexually active participants whose male partners did not use condoms were less subject to depression than those whose partners did. One theory of causality: Prostoglandin, a hormone found only in semen, may be absorbed in the female genital tract, thus modulating female hormones. Another study showed evidence that the vagina absorbs a number of components of semen that can be detected in the bloodstream within a few hours of administration and that semen may antagonize depressive symptoms providing benefits of zinc, calcium, potassium, fructose, proteins – - a veritable cornucopia of vitality!!
For Your Immune System: Sex is a very good impetus for the strengthening of the immune system. Healthy sex saturates your bloodstream with antibodies; therefore, sexually active couples do not suffer from widespread infectious diseases such as flu and colds as frequently as a couple whose love life has dwindled. Wilkes University in Pennsylvania says couples who have sex a couple of times per week show 30% higher levels of an antibody called immunoglobulin A, which is known to boost the immune system and help you fight off colds.
For Relaxation and Better Sleep: It goes without saying that an act of love ends with the ultimate relaxation and sleep. The raising level of oxytocin produces a strong tranquilizing effect. Sex can therefore be considered as a perfect natural soporific medication. And getting a good night’s sleep has many health benefits.
For Your Relationship: Sex is healthy for your marriage. Married couples who are satisfied with their sexual lives report better marital satisfaction… duh… And having a good sexual confidence feeds into your overall confidence. And confident people who like themselves tend to do better in the world. In contrast, sexual dysfunction in a relationship can cause stress, decreasing intimacy and the health benefits of sex. A lack of intimacy can be divisive, create distance and frustration. It can also affect the partner’s confidence and emotional well-being. In these relationships emotional and spiritual safety are compromised and sex often produces feelings of insecurity. The lack of emotional closeness detracts from the sexual experience and decreases the healthy benefits of sex.
For Your Husband: The Journal of the American Medical Association, no less, has reported that “high ejaculation frequency was related to decreased risk of total prostate cancer.” And a team of scientists in Australia “…found that men who ejaculate more frequently between the ages of 20 and 50 are less likely to develop prostate cancer.” Certain cancer-causing compounds, or carcinogens, have been found to concentrate in prostatic fluid. Orgasm can prevent build up of these toxic substances. Another benefit – a 2002 report from a large British population of men said “some protection from fatal coronary events may be an added bonus” of frequent sexual intercourse. And in men, sex increases the flow of testosterone which helps strengthen bones and muscles. Testosterone also transports the hormone DHEA which helps boost the immune system. Men’s Health magazine has gone so far as to call the bed the single greatest piece of exercise equipment ever invented.
WOW! I gotta get married! :O)
I totally agree with everything you have written here about a great Sex life being so vital to an awesome marriage!!!!!
For me it is the intimacy that a frequent sex life adds to our relationship. It would be really hard for anything to destroy a relationship when 2 people are bound so closely.
I think a lot of women miss this fact and when they are too tired, headache, children around – they dont realize that this is also taking a toll on thier marriage. Marital Sex should not be a chore but a celebration!!
Chris