Neither Justin Timberlake nor the subject of his song ever really went out of style, did they? However, I have recently encountered a mentality amongst my peers which I, being my outspoken self, feel I must admonish. Students at Cornell are no strangers to self-deprivation in favor of academic achievement. Too often, it seems, I have found myself awake at 3 a.m. doing work and remembering that I accidentally forgot to eat dinner or go to sleep. I suppose I have been able to accept this lifestyle because I know that, once the weekend (aka Thursday) rolls around, I can get my fill of both sleep and entertainment for the week. Apparently, not everyone feels the same way. From what I’ve heard, the library is not a lonely place to spend a Friday night. Well, Cornell students, I think we may have just gone too far, and I would like to give you a little bit more information about what it is you’re actually giving up.
If you’ve ever turned down a Saturday night rendezvous with that special someone because you wanted to do work, or if you’ve ever felt “too busy for [boys/girls] right now,” you might be missing out on something that may seem like just fun, but is actually an important part of leading a healthy lifestyle. We are biologically built for procreation. Our bodies crave love and, by association, love-making. A person who is without love can just as easily fall in love as a person who is overweight can, with diet and exercise, lose it. This is because our bodies make it easier for us to do what we need to do.
In case you weren’t sure whether sex is a necessary part of your life, your body gives you some major hints. One kind of hint comes in the form of endorphins immediately following healthy activities like exercise, getting massaged and sex. An orgasm can be considered a less subtle hint. Think of an orgasm as your body’s way of saying “Good job! What you are doing right now is really great for you! Woohoo!” But you don’t have to take my word or your body’s figurative words for it.
For the skeptics out there, I’ve compiled a list of interesting physical benefits of sex described by some credible studies. Weight loss and overall fitness are benefits that go without saying. Sex is, if nothing else, exercise, of which we could all use plenty. Arousal can cause heart rates to increase as much as 80 beats per minute and sex can burn about the same number of calories as 15 minutes of running on the treadmill does. Put another way, one session of sex can burn off all of the calories consumed in a typical college student’s version of a meal: a bag of pretzels and a can of beer.
Other benefits come from the release of oxytocin triggered by sex. Oxytocin has been shown to reduce stress, something we have all probably experienced at least once in our Cornell lives. It has also been linked to pain relief in a variety of ways. Studies show that it can even help reduce anxiety and nerves. So, next time you find yourself feeling nervous, instead of picturing the audience naked, consider being naked with someone.
Sex can also trigger the production of the hormone prolactin. Among other things, prolactin causes stem cells in the brain to develop new neurons in the brain’s olfactory bulb — its smell center. In other words, sex can help improve your sense of smell.
While there may not be a known cure for the common cold, a study at Wilkes University in Pennsylvania found that individuals who have sex once or twice a week show 30 percent higher levels of an antibody called immunoglobulin A, which is known to boost the immune system. However, just to be safe, I would probably avoid sex if your partner is sneezing or coughing uncontrollably.
Hygiene is also promoted by sexual activity. Overall hygiene is considered a part of sexual etiquette, since clean people are generally considered more attractive than dirty people. The perspiration that coats your body after sex is full of nourishing oils that can help improve the look of your skin. Seminal plasma contains zinc, calcium and other minerals shown to improve the look of teeth. Think of all of the money you could save on Proactive skin care products and Crest Whitening Strips by engaging in sex every once in a while.
This is not to say that it isn’t possible to get too much of a good thing. The fact that sex is good for you is not an excuse to act irresponsibly or immorally. I am in no way advocating unprotected sex, cheating or putting off your work in favor of sleepless nights (the good kind). I will say, though, that considering how much effort is put into developing time-management skills to get our work done, we should be able to make time for something as good for us as sex is.
As you sit in the library occasionally glancing up from your textbook to admire that adorably studious person sitting next to you, instead of just fantasizing, remember the physical benefits of lovemaking and, of course, falling in love. If nothing else, I’m sure we can all agree that, if practiced responsibly, it can be a lot of fun.
Nikki Nussbaum is a sophomore in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. She can be contacted at opinion@cornellsun.com [1]. Cornell Unzipped appears alternate Tuesdays.
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