A healthy sex life is very important for many aspects of our health but even further a healthy sex life also is a major factor in a healthy relationship. But what about foreplay? Is it a really important factor? We say absolutely. In male issues like erectile dysfunction and female sexual desire stemming from the brain, foreplay cannot be under appreciated. 

If nothing else, sex gets you out of own mind and forces you to focus on the physical matters at hand.  This action of being both mentally and physically present helps to reduce stress in a similar way physical exercise does. According to some research,happiness occurs when you are fully engaged both mentally and physically in the experiences. On the contrary, we are less happy (doing any activity) when we are distracted by thoughts, doubts etc.

You can think of sex and orgasms as the ultimate body high.  Besides the increase in blood flow and heart rate, getting down floods the blood stream with hormones. Sex releases hormones such as oxytocin and dehydroepiandrosterone, both of which are stress-reducing brain chemicals.  Both these hormoneshave been shown to reduce depression.

Oxytocin also serves another purpose.  Sleep. This hormone been touted as sleep-aid because of its power to release endorphins, the brain’s “feel good” chemicals.  On its own, adequate sleep has been shown to make us happier, so if more sex, is leading to better sleep then bring it on!

5 Healthy Foreplay Ideas

1. Stare: Next time the moment is ahead, take a moment and pause to look deeply in your partners eyes. This can have a huge impact on your relationship. Even further, take a minute before you start fooling around to face each other and place your right hand over your partner's heart as he places his own hand over your heart. 

2. Think Happy Thoughts: Try closing your eyes and breathing deeply while thinking. If you picture yourself in a happy memory, you'll begin to feel the same joyful emotion and open-heartedness before sex. Your main sex organ is your brain so positive feelings like this carry over to the way you feel about your partner during sex and leave you more content with each other afterward. 

4. Don't be afraid to share desires: Desire is a major player in foreplay and an overall healthy sex life. Sharing these desires and trying new things with your partner can open up an entire new avenue of pleasure. Just to repeat, rushing into the main event is not the key to a healthy sex life. Foreplay really matters in building up the best desire for both men and women. 

5. Cuddle: Not just for after sex, try cuddling before. Your relationship will benefit in the long run because it draws partners closer together before one of the most intimate moments their relationship has.