As Valentine's Day approaches it may be wonderful to know the nine benefits of kissing. The average person spends more than 20,000 minutes, that 333 and a third hours of their life kissing!

1.Since kissing dilates blood vessels it reduces blood pressure.

2.Dilating blood vessels also relieves cramps and headaches

3.Kissing increases the saliva production in the mouth and washes away plaque on the teeth. Hence, it fights cavities.

4.Lips are densely packed with sensory neurons which are stimulated by another lip. Serotonin, dopamine and oxytacin are the "happy hormones" released.

5.Would you believe 8-16 calories are burned with one kiss?

6.Kissing boosts self esteem. A passionate kiss to a man before leaving for work has been documented to increase his ability to earn money!

7.Facial muscles are toned by kissing along with shaping the neck and jaw line.

8.Kissing helps check out a partner's compatibility. Women place more importance on kissing as a mate assessment device and as a means of initiating, maintaining and monitoring the current states of a relationship with a long term partner.

9.Kissing boosts the immune system and reduces allergic responses in people with skin or nasal allergies.

Make sure you enjoy Valentine's Day to the fullest this year and remember that hugging is therapeutic as well! XO

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