A long run, a bar of dark chocolate, a hard laugh and sex. What do they all have in common? They are all great for our bodies, inside and out. Each has the ability to elicit feel good body chemicals and reduce stress.

But one of those can help improve your body, mind and soul in seven additional ways. Seven. Which one is it? Sex, naturally.

Having good, meaningful, earth shattering sex can do more for you than just making you feel good. Working towards having a healthy sexual life can ultimately transform the rest of your life. Check out these 7 additional health benefits associated with sex and then hit the sheets and see how you can improve your life

1. Promotes healthy and younger looking skin:
Sex can make you look younger. Forget about all of the expensive facial creams. Thirty minutes of sex here and there can help you look seven years younger due to the growth hormone that is released during sex.

2. Helps you sleep better:
Ever wonder why you pass out immediately after an especially long bedroom session? Your overwhelming sleepiness is due to the oxytocin your body releases post sex. Also known as the love hormone, this chemical is released during child birth, breast feeding and orgasms causing the two involved to feel more connected and simultaneously get sleepy. So consider knocking boots on those nights you suffer from insomnia.

3. Not only reduces stress, but helps you deal with new stressors better:
In the moment, sex can help you reduce stress, but it also can help you deal with stress better in the long term. When you have sex, your body actively decreases its levels of cortisol, a chemical that builds up due to caffeine, sleep deprivation and most of all stress. High levels of cortisol actually make it harder to deal with stress when it comes, thus having lower levels can make you accept stressors more easily and think clearer through them.

4. It can help you lose weight:
Naturally, any type of physical activity is going to help you lose weight, but how many work outs do you really enjoy? Sex can appease both sides of you, the enjoyment side and the side of you that wants to lose weight. So hit the sheets the next time you don’t feel like going to the gym. Check out the caloric sex math and get inspired.

5. Boosts your self-esteem:
Sex can boost your self esteem and confidence in two ways. In one way, sex makes you feel attractive. Here is someone who can’t keep their hands off of you and wants you. That’s a great feeling and can make you feel sexy inside and out. Watching someone else enjoy themselves because of what you’re doing and being able to show someone what you like can also boost your self-esteem. If you aren’t sure what you like, take the time to find out on your own first. Spend some time alone with your hand or a toy from a sex store like Adam and Eve. Then take your new found knowledge to your partner and watch as they light up.

6. Can help you deal with pain:
That same love chemical that helps you sleep better also helps boost your body’s level of endorphins. This happy surge of chemicals works as a natural painkiller, which can help temporarily alleviate the pain associated with headaches, arthritis and PMS. So don’t skip out on getting busy the next time because you don’t feel good!

7. Builds a better connection to your partner:
Low and behold, that same little hormone that’s already done so much is going to help you again. Like I said before, oxytocin is released during orgasm (breastfeeding, hugging, and child birth). It’s your body’s way of connecting with others and creating bonds. When you orgasm during sex, your body releases oxytocin so you can feel bonded to the person who did it. Consider heading to the bedroom if your relationship is feeling a little dull and in need of a pick me up.