Sexy secret to looking younger. IT may sound too good to be true but the secret of prolonged youth is much simpler than strict dietary regimes and expensive cosmetics.
The most effective way to keep your looks, according to the latest comprehensive research, is to maintain an active love life.
Couples who make love three times a week look seven years more youthful than their less romantically inclined counterparts, says the study, which interviewed people aged between 18 and 102.
Sex: any excuse will do
'Improving the quality of one's sex life can help a person to look between four and seven years younger,' says consultant neuropsychologist Dr David Weeks.
A good sex life leads to greater contentment, significant reductions in stress, better sleep and, in men, an increase in testosterone output,
Dr Weeks questioned more than 3,500 volunteers during a decade of research into the secrets of youthful appearance and behaviour.
He concluded that genetic factors were only 25 per cent responsible for youthful looks while behaviour was 75 per cent the cause. And one of the main behavioural factors was sex as part of a long-term relationship.
Casual encounters with many different partners did not have the same effect, it was found. 'The significance of the sex factor came as a surprise,' said Dr Weeks. 'As much as other physical activity, sex is an important part of life for the "super-young" from late adolescence or early adulthood throughout their entire lives.'
Dr Weeks, head of old age psychology at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital, says his theory is supported by the appearance of stars such as Goldie Hawn, 54, and Shakira Caine, 52, both of whom have enjoyed long-term and apparently fulfilling partnerships.
His study adds that sex releases 'feel-good' chemicals in the brain that can relieve headaches and even arthritis.
Regular lovemaking also boosts the body's natural defences against infection.
Dr Weeks, who has written a book Secrets of the Superyoung based on his research, said: 'Like a number of other stimulating sensations, sex releases a group of substances in the brain, among them the beta- endorphins, natural painkillers that can also alleviate anxiety.'
As well as sex, Dr Weeks and his team of researchers found that any form of regular exercise helped preserve youthful looks.
He said: 'The equivalent of three brisk one-mile walks a week is sufficient to help you look between five and eight years younger in middle and later years. The major advantages arise from improved circulation, bone strength and immune-system functions and a more favourable muscle-to-fat ratio in the body.'
In terms of longevity, regular aerobic exercise for about 40 minutes a day can add as much as 12 years to a person's life, according to Dr Weeks.
Another recent study of 1,000 men in Caerphilly, South Wales, found that those who had two or more orgasms a week halved their risk of dying prematurely compared with those who had one orgasm a month.
Dr Weeks' study also found that people who look young are more likely to have no children. If they are parents, they tend to have smaller families. They also tend to be athletic, travel often, sleep well, read more and watch less TV.
Psychological profiles also showed they are more likely to tell the truth, suggesting that the stress of deceit takes its toll.
Of the 'superyoung' people identified by the researchers, non- smokers outnumbered smokers by about 20 to one.
Another study published today says men who have fewer orgasms are more likely to develop breast cancer which affects around 250 males in the UK each year.
It may be linked to lower testosterone levels, says the report in the British Journal of Cancer. ( dailymail.co.uk )
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