It's Valentine week, the week for expressing and celebrating love. A kiss is the simplest and easiest way of expressing love and affection. No wonder, Valentine week has a day dedicated to kissing. 

Not every kiss has to be a romantic kiss and kissing involves two people who may or may not be romantically involved (example, the affectionate kisses from a parent to a child). . People kiss for various reasons such as love, luck, greeting, or bidding adieu. But, irrespective of the reason behind the kiss and the relationship of the partners involved, a kiss is not just a kiss and it has a lot more to offer.

Have you ever wondered why you feel happy and elated and get that ‘oh so good’ feeling every time you kiss? That’s because kissing ignites the pleasure centers of the brain and signals your brain to release a mix of chemicals such as dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin which are often touted as ‘happy hormones’. These hormones make you feel excited and boost the feelings of affection and bonding. Exciting isn’t it? In this health article we bring forward to you what more kissing has got in store for you.

  • Kissing reduces stress - In addition to increasing the release of happy hormones, kissing significantly lowers cortisol, the stress hormone. Low cortisol levels help reduce your stress and also boost your self esteem.
  • Kissing  reduces anxiety - Oxytocin released while kissing decreases anxiety, helps you relax, and boosts your general wellness.
  • Kissing improves blood circulation - Kissing causes dilation of blood vessels, improves circulation, increases heart rate and thereby reduces your blood pressure and also reduces headaches. So this means that kissing is good for the heart, both medically and  metaphorically!
  • Kissing tones and tightens your facial muscles - Studies state that kissing involves  up to 2 to 34 facial and neck muscles. So, kissing often makes you use these muscles more regularly and may help firm up your facial muscles. Thus, kissing can be considered as a workout for your face and neck muscles. This facial muscle work out can also increase collagen production and contribute to a firmer and younger-looking skin.
  • Kissing burns calories - Depending on the intensity of the kiss and how passionately you kiss, kissing can burn anywhere up to 26 calories per minute.
  • It can boost your immune system  -  Kissing involves exchange of saliva between the partners. Saliva contains a host of microorganisms (microbiota) and when partners kiss and exchange saliva they also share some of their microorganisms. Exposure to a new set of microorganisms may  help boost your immunity.
  • Kissing helps prevent cavities by increasing saliva production - Kissing stimulates the salivary glands to produce more saliva. Saliva helps lubricate your mouth and also helps keep food debris from sticking to your teeth thereby, preventing tooth decay and saliva production.
  • Kissing boosts your libido - Kissing a romantic partner may help boost your libido. Thus, kissing can be considered as a strong foreplay.

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