Naturopathic physician Jolene Brighton, N.D., tells mbg kissing also allows for the exchange of saliva and therefore also microbes and DNA. As such, some studies suggest kissing can tell you about the genetic traits of your mate3 and influence whether or not you want to take it a step further into babymaking. (A related fun fact picked up by a study at the University of Albany4: Women are more likely than men to rule a partner out for a bad kiss.) Importantly, kissing almost always comes with the heady feelings of romantic intrigue and attraction. A study5 by behavioral anthropologist Helen Fisher, Ph.D., and a team of scientists suggests that the effect of the dopamine that can be released during a really great kiss is comparable to the activation that drugs like heroin and cocaine have on the brain. “Orgasm typically—but not always—results from rhythmic stimulation of body parts with high concentrations of sensory receptors,” Shepherd explains. However, she notes that orgasming from just kissing is “not likely.” But mix it in simultaneously with other forms of sexual stimulation? Now we’re talking. “Kissing can help release oxytocin, which plays a crucial role in reducing stress in relationships,” Shepherd says. Research has shown kissing is linked to lower stress levels10 and cholesterol levels, another marker of stress linked to cortisol production. In the six-week trial, 52 healthy adults in marital and cohabiting romantic partnerships were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. The experimental group was told to up kiss their partners more often, while the control group resumed status quo life. The result? Relative to the control group, the experimental group showed decreased cholesterol numbers and also generally perceived themselves to be less stressed out. Another study found 15 minutes of kissing seems to lower cortisol levels themselves. And if hugging’s not your thing, good news: There are also a ton of benefits of hugging. Schreck is the lady behind @nowheylady, where she blogs about thriving day-to-day with multiple food allergies, sensitivities, and chronic illness. She also shares her personal experiences with everything from navigating modern dating and relationships, to post-pill hormonal acne, to spiritual woo woo things, to healthy recipes, to pleasure in all its wondrous forms.
