Can Lack of Sex Cause Mental Health Issues?

     You might have seen headlines, or even read articles that tout the immunity-boosting benefits of sex. Well, it turns out the benefits don’t stop there, particularly when it comes to your mental health. Yet, sadly our sexual activity is lower today than it has been in previous generations, which made us ask “could a lack of sex put your mental health at risk?” In this week’s episode, we’re answering that question and sharing how much sex you should be having for your mental health. Let’s dive in!    References mentioned include: Trends in Frequency of Sexual Activity and Number of Sexual Partners Among Adults Aged 18 to 44 Years in the US, 2000-2018 Sex on the brain! Associations between sexual activity and cognitive function in older age Frequency of Penile–Vaginal Intercourse is Associated with Verbal Recognition Performance in Adult Women   Thank you for listening to The Happy Eating Podcast. Tune in weekly on Thursdays for new episodes! For even more Happy Eating, head to our website!  https://www.happyeatingpodcast.com Learn More About Our Hosts:  Carolyn Williams PhD, RD: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realfoodreallife_rd/ Website: https://www.carolynwilliamsrd.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RealFoodRealLifeRD/ Brierley Horton, MS, RD Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brierleyhorton/ Got a question or comment for the pod? Please shoot us a message!  [email protected] Produced by Lester Nuby OE Productions    **Intro music this week has been slightly altered to be an instrumental karaoke version of "Let's Talk About Sex", written by Hurby "Luv Bug" Azor, and made famous by Salt-N-Pepa, We HIGHLY recommend listening to the song on repeat: https://music.apple.com/us/album/lets-talk-about-sex/1458671731?i=1458671739