Sex is good for you

With Debbie Simon

“Sex is natural – sex is good. Not everybody does it. But everybody should.”

George Michael was on to something back in 1987. Sex isn’t just fun and games, it’s also good for you, providing benefits ranging from stress release to boosting your immune system. We’ve rounded up some of the top reasons sex is just as effective as the proverbial apple at keeping your doctor away:

Fewer colds: According to researchers at Wilkes University in Pennsylvania, people who are sexually active tend to have higher levels of an antibody called immunoglobulin, which helps combat diseases and keep the body safe from colds and flu.

 Lower blood pressure: A number of studies have documented a link between sexual intercourse (not masturbation) and lower systolic blood pressure. Of course, sex can’t take the place of blood-pressure lowering drugs to control high blood pressure, but it can be a fun way to help said drugs do their job.

Lower risk for heart attack: Having regular sex isn’t a guarantee against a heart attack, but sexual activity does help keep your hormones in check, which can lower your chances of developing conditions like heart disease and osteoporosis. A study of 1,000 men published in 2010 showed that men who had sex at least twice a week were 45-percent less likely to develop life-threatening heart conditions than men who had sex once a month or less.

Fountain of youth?: Another study, this one by the Royal Edinburgh Hospital in Scotland, showed that individuals who have regular sex — four times a week on average — were perceived to be seven to 12 years younger than their actual age. All that nooky promotes the release of hormones like estrogen, we has been shown to promote soft skin and shiny hair. 

Pain relief: Why pop an ibuprofen when you can hit the sheets instead? The endorphins released during sex are similar in structure to opiates and have the same feel-good affect by occupying morphine receptors in the brain.

Improved bladder control: Incontine nce is something that will affect approximately 30 percent of women at some point in their lives. Sex, like the much-vaunted Kegels exercises, is a workout for your pelvic floor muscles. When you orgasm, those muscles contract, strengthening them and leading to better bladder control.

Lower risk of prostate cancer: Research has shown that men who ejaculate frequently (at least 21 times a month) are less likely to get prostate cancer. Most sources caution that other factors may have contributed to those results, but they also agree getting off more often can only help.

Look to Olde Un when planning your bachelorette party with Debbie Simon

Spring is in the air and wedding season is upon us. We’ll leave the planning of your big day to you, but if you’re in charge of giving one of your friends one last, glorious send-off before they tie the knot (a.k.a. an epic bachelorette party) why not come to us?

Whether its pomp and fun/silly bling to announce you’re out on the town with a bride-to-be, risqué decorations, games, baking accessories to help you make that “anatomically correct” cake, or just fun bags and wrapping paper to put that new teddie you just bought them to help spice up the honeymoon, we have everything you need to put on a great party.

And if you’re in need of a few ideas, we’ve rounded up a short list for you:

In vino ludus: Is the bachelorette a fan of wine? Hit up a winery or three. According to some experts, Missouri was Napa Valley before there was a Napa Valley. There are any number of options for planning a fun day of winery hopping. If you’ve got plenty of time before the wedding day, some locations even give you and the girls the opportunity to bottle your own special vintage for the big day.

Get creative: Is your bride-to-be pal a fan of the arts? Tap into your creative sides by taking the whole group out for some kind of art lesson — throw some clay at the Mud Room, book a class with the Community Art League, or reserve time for a guided painting class at The Canvas on Broadway or Paint the Town (bonus: you can enjoy a glass or two while you create!).

Add to your bedroom skill set: Sign up for a workshop to learn how to strip, pole-dance, perfect your bj skills or perform a lap dance. Hit up Muse Pole Fitness here in Columbia or head to Van Ella Studios in St. Louis for a weekend away.

Truth or Dare: Play a more adult version of this sleepover classic. Have everyone come up with a risqué task (perhaps, in homage to 80s classic “Sixteen Candles” she has to convince a stranger to give up his underwear?) the bachelorette has to complete by the end of the night. Buy her a shot or a drink as she successfully completes each task.

Re-enact prom night: Get dressed to the nines, hire a limo, head out for a fancy dinner at a nice restaurant and then hit the town for a night of dancing.

To close things out, we can’t provide you with the stereotypical stripper(s), but we can leave you with a good laugh, courtesy of the classic “Bachelor Party”: