Tracey Cheek– Staff Writer
Winter is the season of sickness and the post-Rush Week ailment has struck our campus. In class you hear nothing but coughs and sniffles and you fight the urge to run to the nearest Purell dispenser. But there are multiple ways to avoid catching the campus cold: chugging Solo Cups of Airbourne, taking way more than the suggested amount of gummy multivitamins or wiping the dining hall out of orange juice. Another thing you can tack onto that list is an all-natural solution: safe sex.
Winter is “cuffing season” after all, right? (Urban Dictionary defines cuffing season as “during fall and winter months people who would normally rather be single or promiscuous find themselves along with the rest of the world desiring to be “cuffed” or tied down by a serious relationship. The cold weather and prolonged indoor activity causes singles to become lonely and desperate to be cuffed.”) So take advantage of this so-called cuffing season and find that someone to help you fight the flu!
Studies show that those who have sex once or twice a week have higher levels of immunoglobulin A – in human terms this means a major antibody that fights colds. Having sex often helps boost your immune system, kind of like “an apple a day” deal. Why suffer through cups of Airbourne when an alternative like sex is proven to reduce stress, a major cause of the common cold? Stress not only causes mental harm but physical harm to your body as well and brings down your immune system. Cold and flu season combined with a new semester is a perfect formula for an increase in stress levels. Any physical contact, not just sex, can reduce stress and release happy-hormones; a simple hug can brighten anyone’s day. Intimacy is an all-natural prescription for fighting the flu. Sex is also proven to promote better sleep. A hormone called prolactin is released after orgasm and that hormone causes sleepiness and relaxation. A good night’s sleep is a surefire way to get through the following day, no nap between classes necessary!
Another benefit of sex is heart health. Having sex regularly keeps estrogen and testosterone levels in balance, which helps fight heart diseases. The physical benefits that you gain from exercising also apply to having sex. Sex is no replacement for maintaining a solid workout routine, but it is an additional non-grueling way of adding some cardio. Exercising regularly keeps your mind and body happy and healthy.
Of course, if you are not practicing safe sex you might run into bigger problems than the common cold. However, safe sex is a beneficial way for all involved to keep that immune system up and running!
Leave a Reply