Grab someone for a smooch today

A formal kiss. A peck on the cheek. That kiss you dread giving your great aunt. A passionate kiss. A kiss goodbye. Today, on World Kissing Day, we embrace the phenomenon of the kiss by embracing each other.

Besides the sheer pleasure of puckering up, there are actually some health benefits to sneaking in those extra smooches:

1. It’s good for your teeth: Kissing stimulates saliva production which helps wash away harmful bacteria on the teeth and reduces plaque build up.

2.Kissing is exercise: Okay, so maybe a make out session isn’t the equivalent of going to the gym, but kissing can burn up to two to six calories a minute. Kissing also exercises your facial muscles which can make a big difference when it comes to frown lines and droopy cheeks.

3. Kissing boosts immunity: When you kiss, certain germs are bound to pass lips. One germ in particular, called the Cytomegalovirus, is particularly harmful to pregnant women. Studies have however shown that through kissing, the bug can be introduced to women in small doses, building her immunity and making her less likely to get sick when she eventually conceives. Caution should however be taken and kissing should probably be postponed when a kissing partner is visibly sick.

4. Kissing eases stress: The relaxed feeling you get after a good kiss isn’t all mental. A study has shown that kissing drops cortisol levels. This is a sign of relaxation and was more prominent than when study subjects just held hands.

5. Kissing could ease allergy symptoms: A Japanese study has found that couples who kissed for 30 minutes had lower levels of allergen-specific IgE, the proteins that trigger symptoms like sneezing and sniffling.

Here are some extra kissing facts to get you in the mood:

– The average person spends two weeks of his or her life kissing.

– Ekkachai and Laksana Tiranarat of Thailand hold the Guinness World Record for the longest lasting kiss which lasted 58 hours, 35 minutes and 58 seconds.

– People make careers out of the science of kissing. Its called philematology.

What was your sweetest kiss? A kiss from your child? A kiss from your significant other? Or maybe a thank you kiss from your best friend? Whatever your best kiss memory may be, let us know on Twitter, Facebook or in the comments below.

Do you perhaps have more information pertaining to this story? Email us at roodepoortrecord@caxton.co.za (remember to include your contact details) or phone us on 011 955 1130.

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