Chocolate is a guilty pleasure for many women. But with the average Easter egg coming in at over 1000 calories, it can feel a little indulgent when you unwrap your second delicious treat of the day.
Luckily, there’s a solution: Swap those chocolate treats for a lengthy sex session over the long weekend! You’ll be amazed at how great sex is for your body and wellbeing. We-Vibe have been doing their research to find out why we should swap out the sugary treats for sex!
Here’s our sex versus chocolate debate. You decide which one you prefer, sex or chocolate!
+ SEX: Makes us happy
Giving and receiving affection releases feel-good endorphins. These hormones can boost mood and energy.
Studies have shown that fulfilling sex, or even affection such as cuddling, significantly reduces stress and creates a positive mood in the hours and days that follow. Sexual contact with your partner increases intimacy and releases feel-good endorphins and the ‘love hormone’ oxytocin.
– CHOCOLATE: Can cause weaker bones
Oxalic acid found in chocolate can block the absorption of calcium and prevent it from ever reaching the bones. An average chocolate bar contains 11tsps of sugar; such amounts can also cause other negative health effects like higher body weight, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels.
+ SEX: Boosts your immunity
Those of us who have more sex also have higher levels of the antibodies that defend against nasty germs and viruses. This translates to fewer sick days off work, and less of the general misery of being under the weather. Sex boosts your immune system and great sex can also be great fun. Laughter is one of the greatest boosters of them all!’
– CHOCOLATE: Is deadly for dogs
It turns out that a chemical in chocolate called theobromine is toxic for dogs. It takes only 2oz of chocolate to kill a 20-pound dog (a King Charles spaniel, for example). If you’ve got a stash of chocolate eggs in the house, be sure to place them on a high surface that your pet can’t reach.
+ SEX: Eases headaches
This age-old excuse won’t fly anymore! Research has proven that if you have a headache, sex is exactly what you should do. Experiments conducted by a team of neurologists in Germany suggest that sexual activity could reduce the pain of headaches and some migraines.
The findings, published in the Journal of the International Headache Society, confirmed that more than half of those suffering from head pains experienced pain relief after sex. So no more excuses ladies, it’s officially a painkiller!
– CHOCOLATE: Causes headaches
Those who suffer frequent migraines often list chocolate as a trigger food. Some neurologists say this may be because it contains the amino acid tyramine, which increases blood pressure and can lead to a headache. Many people don’t realize the amount of caffeine contained in chocolate, which can also be a trigger.
+ SEX: Burns calories
Any kind of exercise is a great mood booster, and good for cardiovascular health. Why not use sex as an opportunity to work up a sweat? A recent sex study titled ‘Energy Expenditure During Sexual Activity In Young Healthy Couples’ found that sex could be the equivalent of significant exercise. The study found that, on average, men burned 4.2 calories a minute and women burned 3.1 calories a minute during sex. Not bad, especially for those of us avoiding the gym.
– CHOCOLATE: Can cause mood swings
Chocolate that contains high levels of sugar can cause fluctuations in our endorphin levels. This, in turn, can cause mood swings, as well as carbohydrate cravings – which no one needs! The effects of chocolate can be similar to those of addictive drugs; over time, brain receptors become desensitised to the endorphin-boosting effects of chocolate, so you’ll need more to get the same lift to your mood.
+ SEX: Lowers blood pressure
As a nation, we take comfort in affection and physical contact – which can actually help keep our blood pressure down. Regular sex lowers our systolic blood pressure. Orgasms not only provide an immediate stress-buster, they also aid the release of prolactin, the hormone that induces relaxation and sleep.
Compromise
If this doesn’t convince you to spend more time in the bedroom, we don’t know what will! But if you still can’t bring yourself to ditch the chocolate bar, at least make it a dark variety. Dark chocolate does have some nutritional value in the form of antioxidants. The higher the percentage of cocoa in the bar, the more benefit it contains. Doctors recommend a square of dark a couple times a week for optimum benefit.
