Kinky sex is awesome, and we’ve finally got the science to back that up. Plus, pretty much everybody and their mother are doing it. (No, not together, you weirdos—that is far too kinky even for us, thanks.)
According Maxim (we’ll get to all that highfalutin science in a sec):
Aside from being kind and virtuous and stuff, kinky is one of the best things you can be. Why? Well, first off, kinky sex is good for you–it keeps your stress levels low and your mental health in check. It’s kind of counterintuitive, right? Being a freak keeps you sane.
And guess what else? Kink is waaay more common than you’d expect, with research showing that about half of all people have had some kind of freaky sex at some point, and a whopping 84 percent saying they’d like a little more kink in their lives.
So, as if it weren’t pretty much obvious at tis point, kinky sex is all kinds of awesome, it’s good for you and it’s a totally common practice.
The rest of the Maxim piece cites some choice soundbites from “a highly informative article on the wild world of BDSM by Broadly,” elucidating the science behind the relationship between pain and pleasure when it comes to sex. Essentially, pain—for example, from, oh, I don’t know, being spanked with a riding crop—releases endorphins, which bind to opioid receptors in the brain, producing a “natural high,” so to speak.
Kinky sex: good, and good for you.
(h/t Maxim)