Have more sex to avoid illness, Brazilians told

Engage regularly in physical exercise, and particularly in sexual intercourse, to fight off chronic illness, Brazil's health minister has advised the general public.

"People need to be active. A weekend football game must not be the only physical activity for a Brazilian. Adults need to do exercise: walk, dance and have safe sex," said Jose Gomes Temporao.

It was while launching a campaign to prevent high blood pressure, that the minister gave the advice, reports The Telegraph.

Temporao then defended his promotion of sexual intercourse to journalists, according to the G1 news website.

"It's not a joke. It's serious. Having regular physical exercises also means sex, always with protection of course," he said.

"Dancing, having sex, keeping weight under control, changing dietary habits, doing physical exercise" all help keep blood pressure down, he said.