Improves immunity for marital health

 Improves immunity

According to research published in Psychological Reports, engaging in sex one to two times per week appears to be the optimal frequency for boosting the immune system.

By measuring levels of an antibody called immunoglobulin A (IgA) in saliva and mucosal linings, scientists can test how strong our immune system is.

Study author Carl Charnetsky of Wilkes University in Pennsylvania and his colleague Frank Brennan found that people who had sex once or twice per week had a 30 percent increase in IgA. However, the same results were not seen in individuals who had less or more frequent sex.

Clifford Lowell, an immunologist at the University of California-San Francisco, says that people who are sexually active are exposed to more infectious agents than people who are not sexually active. The immune system responds to these infectious agents by producing more IgA, which can protect against colds and flu.

For those of you who have sex more or less frequently than the optimal amount, fear not. According to another study by Charnetsky, petting a dog can also significantly increase IgA.