Benefits of Kissing: Higher Sexual Desire and Less Stress

Usually, sweet things are unhealthy, but fortunately, that is not the case with kissing. Read about the benefits of kissing.

Love is not the only thing that makes a kiss sweet and exciting – hormones also help. A study, conducted a few years ago, tried to show the benefits of kissing on a person by measuring the activity of the heart and brain. During kissing, the change in the activity of the heart and brain was smaller than the change in the activity caused by eating chocolate, but the researcher managed to prove that the exchange of wet kisses transfers more testosterone between the partners, which increases sexual desire in both of them.

Benefits of kissing: Fight against stress

A new study measured the level of the hormone Oxycontin, which is associated with sexual arousal, the feelings of closeness and maternal behavior, and the level of the stress hormone, cortisol, in blood and saliva. The study, which was conducted by W. Hill, professor of psychology, and included 15 couples, showed that the joy felt during kissing is the result of chemical processes.

Researchers measured the levels of Oxycontin and cortisol in couples before holding hands and kissing while listening to music and afterward. The experiment took 15 minutes. In all 30 people, the level of cortisol was lowered and the level of Oxycontin was increased only in men.

Benefits of kissing: It increases the arousal

Similar but less marked changes took place in the experiment where they only held hands.

The experiment was repeated in a more romantic atmosphere and, in that case, the level of Oxycontin was higher in women as well. Women therefore need an appropriate atmosphere and not just a touch to trigger the chemical processes that increase the level of hormone responsible for arousal and the feelings of attachment.

Read more about kissing in our Lover's Guide.