Kissing activates the brain’s reward system and plays an important role in bonding and emotional intimacy.
If your marriage is lacking smooches at the moment, it may be time to pucker up and seal it with a kiss.
Kissing has great benefits and plays a huge role in intimacy and bonding. It's not only a great way to show your affection but it's also a feel-good act.
Scientifically speaking, the act of kissing activates the brain’s reward system, releasing neurotransmitters like oxytocin, "the love hormone," and vasopressin which helps in bonding, reports Mental Floss.
It's a great way to balance your mood as well as release endogenous opioids, dopamine, and other helpful neurohormones. According to Healthline, the loving act also helps reduce cortisol levels and in turn reduces stress and anxiety. It is also believed to give your immune system a boost and help with alleviating pain associated with headaches. So no more using "headaches" as an excuse when you're partner is in the mood to be affectionate!
It's time to start smooching! Here are the real health benefits of kissing your loved one. https://t.co/4EHYHn6u30
— SheKnows (@SheKnows) July 7, 2022
Romantic kissing can also lead to sexual arousal and increased attraction. In a marriage, hiking up the kiss-o-meter can strengthen your romantic relationship and keeps you both feeling satisfied. Did you know that the longer and more passionately you kiss the more testosterone gets released? It is a sex hormone that helps in arousal. A 2013 study in the Archives of Sexual Behavior discovered that more frequent kissing was connected to couples’ perceived feelings about the quality of a relationship. So the more they kissed, the happier the couples were in their relationships. Let's face it. It's also such a fun way to express love and kissing doesn’t necessarily have to lead to sex to feel amazing.
One psychological study by Kory Floyd, of Arizona State, discovered the physiological benefits of affectionate communication.
According to Psychology Today, he and his colleagues studied couples over a six-week period where they "like you and your spouse or romantic partner to kiss more frequently than you normally do. At first, you might set aside a few minutes each day specifically for kissing. Over time, you will probably find that it becomes a more routine part of how you interact. The point is for the two of you to kiss each other more often and for longer periods than you typically do right now."
They learned there were changes in relationship satisfaction, stress, and cholesterol levels. Those who increased their frequency of kissing reported both lower levels of stress and higher levels of relationship satisfaction. So next time you're feeling down, you know what to do!
References:
https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/501990/10-scientific-benefits-kissing
https://www.healthline.com/health/benefits-of-kissing#libido
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/adventures-in-dating/201403/the-surprising-benefits-kissing
Representational Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Thanasis Zovoilis
