9 unexpected health benefits of masturbation
Netflix
Most people don't like to talk about masturbation. But it's something that, statistically, many of these same people do.
According to a 2016 study from sex toy company Tenga, 95% of men and 81% of women have masturbated in their lifetime.
If you are among these people, you may be pleased to learn that masturbating doesn't just feel good — it's actually pretty good for you, too. Here, Jessa Zimmerman, a certified sex therapist and author of "Sex Without Stress," explains the unexpected health benefits of masturbating.
1. It improves heart health.
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"Similar to exercise, masturbation gets your blood pumping," Zimmerman told INSIDER. "This is good for heart health and may contribute to a lower risk of type 2 diabetes and weight gain."
This doesn't mean that masturbating is equivalent to running a marathon and, because of this, you shouldn't think of it as a replacement for exercise. But it definitely can't hurt to enjoy as a supplement to your regular exercise routine.
2. It helps you sleep better at night.
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If you sometimes have trouble sleeping, masturbating could help knock you out.
"After orgasm, we're normally more relaxed," Zimmerman told INSIDER. "We're also bathed in endorphins and oxytocin, the feel-good hormones that can help us get to sleep easily and sleep more deeply."
Read more: 10 sleeping habits that are sabotaging your chance at a good sleep
3. It reduces the risk of prostate cancer.
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"Men [who masturbate] have a reduced risk of prostate cancer, presumably through flushing of toxins through ejaculation," Zimmerman told INSIDER.
This checks out. According to a Harvard Health Professionals study, men who ejaculated 21 times or more in a month experienced a 33% lower risk of prostate cancer compared to men who ejaculated four to seven times a month.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider
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