We all know that kissing the right person feels exquisite. Your lips contain thousands of nerve endings (100 times more than your fingertips and many more than any—we mean any—other body part), so why wouldn’t it feel good? But scientists are discovering that kissing also has amazing effects on the brain.

According to Helen Fisher, author of Why We Love, this delicious activity stimulates all your senses, allowing you to smell, taste, hear, feel and even see your partner (although we hope you’ll eventually close your eyes). It also sends subtle communications to your brain via neurons that travel from your lips and tongue through cranial nerves. Once these messages reach your noggin, they’re processed into some delicious side effects.

Here are 5 ways kissing makes you happier, calmer and more connected to your partner.

1. Kissing induces pleasure and relaxation. It’s pretty clear that smooching boosts your pulse and blood pressure, dilates your pupils and deepens breathing. The whole thing is exciting, right? But what you may not know is that kissing also raises levels of oxytocin, the chemical associated with trust and attachment, and reduces levels of the stress hormone cortisol. So you’re turned on and chill—a great combination.

2. Kissing reveals a lot about your lover. And we’re not just talking about how good of a kisser he is. As you lock lips with your partner, you unconsciously pick up signals about what he’s been eating, drinking or smoking. But did you know that you also collect important data about his genetic makeup? As it turns out, we’re naturally drawn to people with a slightly different immune system—Mother Nature’s way of producing genetic variety in our young. Most interesting: A woman’s breath and saliva change over her menstrual cycle, which means a kiss can broadcast the status of her fertility.

3. Kissing puts you in the mood. If you’re kissing a man, that is. A guy’s saliva is loaded with testosterone, so a guy may subconsciously initiate open-mouth kissing to transfer that libido-boosting hormone to their partner. The sloppier the kiss, the more of this sexy hormone he transmits. And, needless to say, the more skilled he is with his lips, the more you’re likely to fall into bed with him.

4. It’s the (almost) universally accepted love currency. About 90 percent of people around the world kiss as a sign of affection. And in those cultures where kisses are considered yucky, lovers still focus on the areas around or near the lips, blowing, licking, sucking or nipping on each other’s faces prior to copulation.

5. Kissing can bring you closer to your partner. If it’s a good kiss, that is. Fisher has interviewed thousands of people in love to learn that a passionate, tender, emotionally charged smooch is one of life’s most powerful bonding agents that can take a relationship to the next level. As you kiss, your body experiences a surge of the hormone oxytocin, which reduces stress and increases feelings of connectedness.

So what are you waiting for? Start smooching.

When it comes to love, many of us claim we favor a certain “type.” We may also have a mental checklist of desirable traits we seek in a mate, such as a sense of humor, a tall stature, or even a respectable bank account. But according to cultural anthropologist Helen Fisher, a leading expert on the biology of love and attraction, chemistry is what drives us to fall hard for someone.

The powerful feelings shared by two people who are deeply attracted to one another is the stuff romantic poems and songs are made of. But scientists have discovered that love as we humans know it is spurred on by chemicals in our bodies. Was Tina Turner right when she sang, “What’s love got to do with it?” Could that emotion we all yearn for be nothing more than hormone-driven chemistry? … //READ MORE

Whether you’re happily attached, looking for love or mending a broken heart, the L word may be occupying your thoughts this month. Here, our favorite words of wisdom on the all-consuming topic. … //READ MORE

So you’ve been together for a while now. Things seem to be going smoothly—or are they? For some reason, you have your doubts. But girlfriend, things are not as complicated as they seem. If your heart can’t seem to rule your head these days, let us clarify for you. Here are undeniable 10 ways to know if he’s really in it (the relationship, that is) to win it. … //READ MORE

Are you romantically involved with a narcissist? Actually, we might as well be asking you the following: Are you perpetually confused about your relationship, feeling ecstatic one day, heartbroken and emotional the next? Have you been trying to figure out if everything is your fault or if there’s something truly wrong with this man? Have you been angry with yourself because you know you should know better, yet you just can’t seem to escape the erratic charms of your supposed love—even though the lows with him are so awful? … //READ MORE

Nothing warms the heart more than a scrumptious, homemade dinner for your sweetheart. So whether it’s Valentine’s Day, a special anniversary or birthday, skip the hard-to-get reservation and costly check and stay home instead. The two of you can get cozy in the kitchen while you bond over blending, braising and baking. … //READ MORE