Kissing is Good For Your Heart in More Ways Than One

It seems like when you start a new romantic relationship, there's a lot of kissing that goes on and then over time, for whatever reason, it fades as you settle into the relationship. If you hardly ever kiss your mate or can't remember the last time you did, then this is for you.  

Match.com lists six health benefits of smooching you may not realize:

Benefit #1: Kissing can break down oral plaque and prevent cavities by stimulating the creation of saliva, which helps wash bacteria away from the tooth’s surface.

Benefit #2: Kissing helps you keep a younger-looking face because you use over 30 facial muscles while kissing, which helps to keep muscles smooth and tight and prevents your cheeks from sagging.

Benefit #3: Kissing boosts your metabolism, which can help burn calories. During a really passionate kiss, you can burn anywhere from two to five calories per minute, which is double your normal resting rate.

Benefit #4: Your immune system gets a healthy boost, since being exposed to someone else’s germs causes your body to create antibodies against those germs, which can in turn lead to immunity and prevent illness.

Benefit #5: Kissing improves our mood by releasing the antidepressant, oxytocin. A study of cohabiting and married couples showed that an increased frequency of kissing decreases stress and cholesterol levels.

Benefit #6: Kissing provides a natural form of pain relief by releasing natural chemicals in the body called endorphins, which can be more powerful than morphine to relieve pain.

So pucker up for better health and remember why you enjoyed it so much in the beginning.