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“You don’t have to be rich to be my girl, you don’t have to be cool to rule my world, ain’t no particular sign I’m more compatible with, I just want your extra time and your… kiss”. The recently deceased American singer Prince bequeathed to us many unforgettable songs, among which ‘Kiss’ is probably the most emblematic one. Who doesn’t like kisses? Even if it sounds cheesy, there are very few things in life comparable to the magical feeling that kisses can arouse. It’s our natural way to express love, thus helping us build up endearing relationships… but do kisses have additional perks?

According to a new study by researchers at Hospitals Quirón Salud of Valencia and Torrevieja (Spain), kisses can boost the immune system, reduce pain and, in general, contribute to a fuller life. The study also points out that mouth-to-mouth kissing can also lead to common diseases such as colds, tooth decay, or cold sores.

“Saliva contains substances that fight off bacteria, viruses, and fungi,” said Gemma Ramón, a general practitioner at Quirón Salud, who also declared that exchanging saliva “stimulates and strengthens the immune system, therefore creating antibodies.”

It is not the first time swapping spit has been related to wellness. For example, the ‘Medical Hypotheses’ journal published, in 2009, an article on kissing as a protective mechanism against Human Cytomegalovirus, which belongs to the Herpes family and can be life-threatening for new-borns. That manuscript states that, even though kissing exposes us to the risk of oral infection, it actually protects us from illnesses with far more serious complications.

On top of that, frequent kissers release extra endorphins, which decrease pain and trigger well-being. In other words, ‘locking lips’ could work as a natural stress-relieving method, especially if we take into account that kissing lowers cortisol, described as the primary stress hormone.

Besides, did you know that we can move up to 36 muscles, and our heartbeat accelerates in just a few seconds? And, what’s more, that kissing can pump up our metabolism and help us burn calories? These are just some other interesting facts related to health and kisses, an amazing connection that keeps bringing surprises beyond what we already know: that kisses strengthen the bond between lovers and play a key role when raising happy, confident children.

After all, when the hippies came out with the slogan ‘Make love, not war,’ they knew what life was about back in the sixties. Don’t you agree?