Think about the best part of any romantic comedy. Everyone’s favorite moment of these movies is when the tension finally comes to a head and the two leads fall into each other’s arms and start making out.
Health Benefit #1: It Boosts Your Immune System
CNN reports that kissing can actually lower your blood pressure. How?
Well, when you kiss passionately, it gets your heartbeat going faster, which dilates your blood vessels.
Once your blood vessels are dilated, the blood can flow more easily to your organs.
Health Benefit #3: It Can Relieve Pain
The same blood vessel dilation that helps reduce blood pressure can also relieve pain.
Although kissing can help with all sorts of pain, it really helps relieve headaches and cramps.
Health Benefit #4: It Helps Your Tooth Health
When you lock lips with someone, you start producing more saliva — as you do anytime you move your mouth more (like when you eat).
The extra saliva you secrete when kissing can help wash away cavity-causing plaque on your teeth.
Health Benefit #5: It Burns Calories
It’s not the same as going for a run, but kissing can actually burn a few calories.
According to CNN, “A vigorous makeout session can burn 8 to 16 calories per smooch.”
Obviously, kissing shouldn’t replace working out, but it can definitely replace lying around on the couch.