WORKING OUT…….In Bed!
By Barbara Meltzer
“Why don’t you come up and see me sometime?”
It has been nearly 75 years since sultry actress Mae West uttered that classic phrase in her suggestive tone, leaving no doubt what she had in mind. American audiences snickered then. After all, the blonde bombshell was 40 years old.
Mae was way ahead of us. Despite the skepticism, and more likely disbelief, she knew that enjoyment of sex had no expiration date.
During the last two decades, we have learned that stereotypes about being “too old” for sex are not only passé, but downright silly. We now know that menopause is no longer the beginning of the end, but rather a sign that the next chapter is about to start.
According to experts, we can have a satisfying sex life for many if not all of the extended years we are now living. It can even be more fulfilling and pleasurable than the frantic passions of our youth.
“For some women there can be a resurgence of interest in sex,” says Dr. Stephanie Beuhler, a licensed psychologist, certified Sex Therapist and director of the Beuhler Institute. “With renewed zest for life and no worries about unwanted pregnancies, sexual desire often increases. I've heard women declare, ‘This is my time.’”
Putting quality time, awareness and energy toward a sex life in our 50+ years can do even more than reap emotional and erotic rewards. Experts agree that having sex also comes with an important bonus—good health and fitness! So if weights and treadmills get you down and yoga doesn't fit the bill, try three squares, eight glasses of water and sex! We all know some of the obvious benefits of sex, but here are some additional significant ones that you may not have thought about:
•Losing Weight Sex is exercise. It burns calories, a little over four of them a minute; the equivalent of four Hershey’s kisses in half an hour of love.
•Boosting the Immune System Having sex once or twice a week raises the body’s level of the immune-boosting antibody immunoglobulin A, or IgA, by a third, according to research at Wilkes University in Pennsylvania, helping the body to fights colds, flu and other infections.
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•Strengthening Klegels For women, using their Klegels (pelvic floor muscles) during sexual intercourse, not only provides more pleasure, it strengthens the muscles and has the added bonus of better bladder control.
•Improving Intimacy Having sex and orgasms increase levels of the hormone oxytocin—the so-called “love hormone”— helping us to bond and build trust. Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh and the University of North Carolina evaluated 59 premenopausal women before and after warm contact with their husbands and partners, ending with hugs. They found that the more contact, the higher the oxytocin levels. Providing yet another benefit, the oxycotin produced during orgasm also promotes sleep.
•Lowering the Risk of Heart Attack According to a study published in the Journal of Pidemiology and Community Health, sex improves cardiovascular health. Researchers in England found that men who had sex twice or more a week are less at risk for a fatal heart attack compared to men who had sex less than once a month.
•Lowering Stress Levels Another study examined participants’ blood pressure as a measure of their stress responses during public speaking or challenging math problems— situations that often elicit stress. It was found that those who recently had intercourse tended to have either lower baseline blood pressures, less of a blood pressure rise during stressful events, or both. These findings suggest that having sex can lead to less of a stress response during challenging situations.
•Elevating Your Mood Researchers at Arizona State University asked 58 women to record their moods and levels of sexual activity and physical affection over 36 weeks. Those women who experienced both affection and sex reported being in a better mood the next day. Chalking it up to endorphins—neurotransmitters that are released during sexual activity— researchers believe that this is what causes the classic “afterglow” phenomenon.
•Looking More Beautiful In a study at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital in Scotland, a panel of judges viewed participants through a one-way mirror and guessed their ages. Those who looked seven to 12 years younger than their age (labeled “super-young”) were also enjoying lots of sex—four times a week, on average. Okay, maybe they were having so much fun because they looked young, but it’s likely the sex was helping, say the researchers. One reason is that it raises a woman's estrogen level, helping to make hair shiny and skin supple. So, the potential health benefits of enjoying sex after 50 seem to be varied and proven. Let’s see, there’s weight loss, a boost to the immune system, better bladder control, improved intimacy, a lower level of stress, better moods, increased beauty and sounder sleep.
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FITNESS PLAN FOR THE NEW YEAR
About Barbara Meltzer
Barbara is the founder and principal of the Los Angeles-based Public Relations and Marketing agency, Barbara Meltzer & Associates. Her personal experience as a family caregiver sparked an interest in aging issues and advocacy. In 2007, she was appointed to serve as a commissioner on the Los Angeles County Commission on Aging. Barbara Meltzer can be reached at barbara@meltzerpr.com or by visiting www.meltzerpr.com
Barbara is a member of our Boomer Authority community of experts.
Publisher’s Note:
This article was repurposed with the permission of LifeAfter50, where it was originally published in January 2009.
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Tomorrow on BB[KC] we continue with our two-day special on sexual health, love and relationships with an article by Boomer Authority expert, Terri Benincasa, titled "Six Tips for Better Boomer Dating."