Have More Sex to Beat the Crunch

In pinched times like these, there is one way to boost your happiness without spending a penny, since the more you have sex with your spouse or partner, the happier you become, according to U.S. psychiatrist Daniel Amen.

Amen's book "Sex on the Brain" is full of scientific yet interesting stories. The increase of happiness from upping sex from once a month to once a week is equivalent to the satisfaction from earning US$50,000 more a year, he says. And increasing sex to three times a week will make people look 10 years younger. The happiness index for married people who enjoy sex 30 percent more often than those who are single is therefore higher.

Amen says food is a crucial part of people's sex life. Almonds stimulate the sexual desire of women and bananas increase sexual drive of men, he claims. Eating an apple before kissing cleanses the mouth and stimulates secretion of saliva. And asparagus, which is rich in vitamin E, stimulates production of sex hormones. The capsaicin in pepper is a natural stimulant, facilitating discharge of endorphin, he adds.