The 9 benefits of kissing (according to science)

The kisses, together with the hugs and the pettingThey are acts of love, acts that when we receive them from the person we want, they don't make us feel really good. Kisses produce pleasant sensations and can leave you breathless or give you goosebumps. They are messages from the heart, and they are more sincere and profound than words. Kisses are unique experiences and can become unforgettable.

There are different types of kisses, from the most romantic or passionate to the most affectionate and warm.

• If you want to know the different kinds of kisses, you can read our article: “Types of kisses: the 9 different kisses and their meaning”

benefits of kissing

In this article you can find the nine benefits of kissing and why they are so important to us and to our physical, emotional and psychological health.

1. They help in the survival of the species

Kisses are not only pleasant, but they may have an adaptive function. That is why experts in evolutionary psychology affirm that we are biologically programmed to kiss, since displays of affection can be key to the survival of the human species.

In addition, according to Sheril Kirshenbaum, from the University of Texas and author of the book The Science of Kissing: “Kissing produces chemical reactions in our brains that mobilize our bodies. There is an exchange of saliva in which the man's testosterone acts as an aphrodisiac in the woman." We all know the importance of procreation so that the human species does not disappear, and, without a doubt, kisses and sex are closely linked.

2. Strengthen ties

Human beings are social beings, and kisses have the power to keep us together.. We kiss those people we love, as if it were an uncontrollable impulse. We kiss our children whenever we can, giving them the message of how much we love them and important that they are for us, and we also kiss our partner because something inside us moves us To do it.

Although it is true that, on many occasions, we kiss strangers to introduce ourselves and show ourselves as educated people, love it makes us want to kiss, and when we kiss, we release hormones like oxytocin, which are related to affection and love. trust.

3. lowers blood pressure

Kissing is not only good for the heart of love, but also for your vital organ.. According to Andrea Demirjian, author of the book Kisses: Everything you ever wanted to know about one of life's sweetest pleasures. "Kissing is an intimate experience with remarkable health benefits. A passionate kiss raises the heartbeat in a healthy way and helps lower blood pressure."

In addition, the expert says that "kisses dilate blood vessels, blood flows smoothly and firmly, and reaches all your vital organs."

4. Reduce pain

Some studies affirm that kisses have an analgesic effect and reduce different types of pain: head, back, menstrual cramps... After a hard day at work, one can come home tired and with a sore neck after a tense day at the office. When you get home, however, the couple's kisses can have a positive effect on the person, making them feel good.

Experts say that kissing and being kissed release some opioid substances such as endorphins, which help us feel better and are related to pleasant sensations. In other words, a good kiss could act like morphine but without its side effects. There is no better medicine than a good kiss.

• Recommended article: “Morphine: characteristics and effects in the short and long term”

5. Reduce stress

Stress is one of the great evils of today., but kissing seems to have a positive effect on this phenomenon, which helps to considerably improve people's well-being. The cause seems to be that kissing reduces the hormone cortisol, which is related to stress.

• If you want to know more about this hormone, you can read our article: “Cortisol: the hormone that causes us stress”

6. Helps to refine the search for a partner

A curious study is the one carried out by psychologist Gordon Gallup of the University of Albany, together with Susan Hughes and Marissa Harrison, and which he titled "The psychobiology of the romantic kiss."

According to the results of this investigation, the exchange of saliva that occurs in a kiss would provide genetic information that would help identify possible potential partners for correct reproduction, because it would allow information to be exchanged and to assess whether there is a degree of genetic compatibility between the two people and whether this relationship is worth it. A controversial study that seems to forget the social factors associated with the search for a partner, and that should be replicated to find out in more detail if these results are repeated.

7. Improves sexual relations

Kissing is an important part of sexual intercourse and it certainly enhances the intimate experience.. According to a study from the University of Albany, women have the need to kiss before and after a sexual encounter, while men are more inclined to have sex without the mediation of a kiss. Far from these results, it is clear that kissing intensifies the sensations and makes the sexual encounter much better.

8. Improves the immune system

Kisses improve the immune system according to different studies. One of them seems to indicate that kissing, in the case of women, helps protect against Cytomegalovirus which could cause infant blindness or other birth defects during pregnancy when contracted from mouth to mouth. Besides, some studies claim that the sharing of germs from saliva could cause a person's immune system to improve against these same germs.

However, kissing can be a reason for contagion of some diseases such as mononucleosis, so you should always be careful when we are intimate with someone.

9. help you feel better

As I said, kissing helps release endorphins, hormones related to well-being and pleasure. It also releases other neurochemicals such as serotonin (low levels of this neurotransmitter are associated with depression) or dopamine, neurochemicals related to happiness and repetition of behaviors. With kisses, the brain region related to drug use is activated: the reinforcement area.

• Related article: “The chemistry of love: a very powerful drug”