Why Science Says Spooning Can Benefit Your Health

If you love spooning, you're in luck — according to experts, it's doesn't just make you feel good, it has a whole heap of legitimate benefits, too. As Sari Cooper, founder and director of The Center for Love and Sex in New York City, told Men's Health, "The largest organ we have on our bodies is our skin, and the primal urge to have skin-to-skin contact for the majority of humans is due to our desire to be soothed, comforted, and loved." And ultimately, spooning helps you achieve those three things.

But according to clinical psychologist Sanam Hafeez, spooning and cuddling also "triggers the release of oxytocin, which relieves stress." Speaking to Shape, she continued, "Less stress, less anxiety, and lower blood pressure all mean less strain on the heart." In other words, spooning could actually lower your risk of heart disease, in addition to your stress levels. Better still, it can even improve the quality of your sleep (via The Sunday Edit).

In addition to its health benefits, spooning is also a useful tool for couples. Pam Costa, sex coach and founder of Down To There, told Men's Health that she uses it to help strengthen bonds. "When I'm working with couples, I'll have them try this [spooning] in the office by setting a timer for five minutes and asking them to lie down together, with as much of their bodies touching as possible, with no agenda other than to observe what is happening in their bodies." She continued, "By the end of 5 minutes, most couples report feeling closer emotionally and interested in escalating their physical connection."

And it couldn't be easier to do. There's really no right or wrong way to spoon. If you're new to it, simply ensure the communication between you and your partner remains open and find the spooning position you're both comfortable with.