The 9 benefits of kissing (according to science)

April 1, 2024

Kisses, together with hugs and caresses, are acts of love, acts that when we receive them from the person we want you have not made us feel really good. Kisses produce pleasant sensations and can leave you breathless or get goosebumps. They are messages from the heart, and they are more sincere and deeper 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 loving 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. Help in the survival of the species

The kisses are not only pleasant, but they may have an adaptive function . That is why the experts in evolutionary psychology say that we are biologically programmed to kiss, because the samples of affection can be key for the survival of the human species.

In addition, according to Sheril Kirshenbaum of the University of Texas and author of the book The Science of Kissing: "Kisses produce chemical reactions in our brain that mobilize our body. There is an exchange of saliva in which man's testosterone acts as an aphrodisiac in women. " We all know the importance of procreation so that the human species does not disappear, and, undoubtedly, kisses and sex are closely linked.

2. Tighten 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 whenever we can to our children, giving them the message of how much we love them and how important they are to us, and we also kiss our partner because something inside us moves us to do it.

While it is true that, on many occasions, we kiss strangers to introduce ourselves and show ourselves as educated people, love provokes in us a desire to kiss, and when we kiss, we release hormones such as oxytocin, which are related to affection and trust. .

3. Reduce blood pressure

Bto be 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 always wanted to know about one of the sweetest pleasures in life. "Kissing is an intimate experience with remarkable health benefits, a passionate kiss increases the heartbeat in a healthy way and helps lower blood pressure."

In addition, the expert tells that "kisses dilate blood vessels, blood flows in a fluid and firm, and reaches all your vital organs."

4. Reduces pain

Some studies claim that kissing has an analgesic effect and reduces different types of pain : head, back, menstrual cramps ... After a hard day's work, one can come home tired and with neck pain after a tense day in the office. When you get home, but, the kisses of the couple can have a positive effect on the person, making him feel good.

Experts say that kissing and being kissed releases some opioid substances such as endorphins, which help us feel better and are related to pleasurable 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 kisses seem to have a positive effect on this phenomenon, which helps to considerably improve the well-being of people. The cause seems to be that kisses reduce 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 generates stress"

6. Helps to refine in the couple search

A curious study is the one made by psychologist Gordon Gallup of the University of Albany, along with Susan Hughes and Marissa Harrison, and titled "The Psychobiology of the Romantic Kiss".

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

7. Improves sexual intercourse

Kisses are an important part of sexual relationships and there is no doubt that they improve the intimate experience . According to a study by the University of Albany, women have the need to kiss before and after a sexual encounter, while men are more prone to sex without the mediation of a kiss. Far from these results, it is clear that kissing intensifies sensations and makes the sexual encounter much better.

8. It improves the immune system

The kisses improve the immune system according to different studies. One of them seems to indicate that kissing, in the case of women, helps to protect against Cytomegalovirus that could cause childhood blindness or other birth defects during pregnancy when it is contracted from mouth to mouth. Further, some studies claim that the exchange of saliva germs could cause the person's immune system to improve against these same germs.

However, kissing can be a source of contagion of some diseases such as mononucleosis, so you should always be cautious when we communicate with someone.

9. Help you feel better

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