Researchers wanted to know the answer to this question. So they brought together a diverse group of 52 adults in committed relationships. Half of this group was instructed to kiss more often for a full six weeks, the other half was not.
After six weeks each person had their blood cholesterol measured and took a questionnaire. Each member of the “increased kissing” group had their cholesterol go down. The control group experienced no change.
It’s also interesting to note that there were other positive side-effects of increased kissing. One is that those who kissed more tended to exercise more, experience less conflict in their relationships and improved communication.
So kissing more often has many benefits besides just feeling good.
But why does kissing lower cholesterol?
Researchers determined through a special kind of analysis called ANCOVA that the increased exercise, reduced conflict and improved communication did not cause the change in cholesterol.
Only stress correlated perfectly with the reduction in cholesterol for each participant.
This is a finding similar to that of other studies showing that a reduction in stress leads to a reduction in cholesterol.
So if you want to lower your cholesterol, start kissing more often. Or if you know someone that needs to keep their hearth healthy, let them know about this study. Unlike exercise, this is a commitment that anyone with a partner would enjoy keeping. And best of all there are no negative side effects.
What do you think of this study? Please leave a comment below.
Reference to study above:
Floyd, K. , Boren, J. P., Hannawa, A. F., Hesse, C. , McEwan, B. L. and Veksler, A. E. , 2008-11-21 “Kissing in Marital and Cohabiting Relationships: Effects on Blood Lipids, Stress, and Relationship Satisfaction” Paper presented at the annual meeting of the NCA 94th Annual Convention, TBA, San Diego, CA Online <PDF>. 2010-06-06 from http://www.allacademic.com/meta/p246054_index.html
8 replies to "Does Kissing Lower Cholesterol?"
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Here is the flip side to kissing and lower cholesterol and emotional stress.
To give an example of how emotional stress can have a physiological effect, here is an extract from an article published in the Daily Mail in March 2006 entitled ‘ Row with your loved one hurts the heart’ where it was reported that a three year study of older married couples found their arteries hardened and narrowed after they were involved in arguments, raising their risk of heart disease.
For women, this happened when the row took on a hostile nature. But for men it occurred only when either they or their wife acted in a dominating and controlling manner. American scientists asked 150 couples in their 60s and 70s to discuss a sore topic such as money or their in-laws for six minutes. Each conversation was observed by psychologists who gave a point score for friendly, hostile or dominant behaviour. Two days later the couples were given CAT scans to show the extent of atherosclerosis. The results revealed that the couples who had the most stormy rows showed the most signs of having narrowed arteries.
Stephen,
Thanks for the comment. The study you just mentioned is definitely mroe proof that our behavior in relationships affects our health. I wonder how helpful it would be if those couples who argued a lot made a point to kiss more. In the study I quoted above, those who kissed more had fewer arguments.
Rodney
Rodney, I saw your comment on The Small Business Muse blog. Noting your most recent post, I thought I’d pop by and comment. Yippee! Kissing beats the pants (no pun intended) off of Lipitor and Crestor – and it doesn’t hurt your liver or do other bad things to you body. Such a simple solution that most people would never consider. Stephen’s comment is also interesting. Why wouldn’t our bodies manufacture bad things when we’re experiencing negative emotions? Makes sense to me. All the more reason to get along with your partner . . . or find one you can get along with. 🙂
Lisbeth,
Thanks for your comment. In response to your words
“All the more reason to get along with your partner . . . or find one you can get along with.”
I totally agree.
Kissing also caused participants to get along better. So if you don’t get along then hold hands, look into each others eyes and kiss more often etc, and this can actually CAUSE you to get along better with your significant other.
Rodney
Good job son, Now I know why my cholesterol has improved so much… Yahoo!!!
Yep. That may be dad. Keep up the affection to Marth and you’ll be alright.
Rodney
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