Studies say that by the time we are 14, 50% of us will have experienced our first real kiss (not counting the grandma kind!). Whether momentous or disappointing, chances are all we'll know before the fact about this most romantic of practices is what we have seen on TV and in the movies. In the belief that with wisdom comes strength, here are some neat facts to help make you a more powerful...and knowledgeable... consumer!

Did you know...

The science of kissing is called philematology.

A one-minute kiss burns 26 calories! A long kiss makes the metabolism burn sugar faster than usual.

The top five foods to avoid 24 hours before kissing are garlic, onions, fish, cheese and pastrami.

A little pucker uses just two muscles around the lips. A passionate kiss uses all 34 facial muscles.

If you can't brush your teeth or floss, if you're not near mouthwash or sugar free mints or gum, chewing on parsley can restore you back to sweet smelling breath.

When we kiss, our hearts beat faster and our breathing becomes deep and irregular, mimicking the response of intense exercise. So if done right, kissing can be considered a great cardiovascular workout! At the same time it's a terrific tension reliever. You shut out the world, you close your eyes and you're almost smiling.

One theory says that social kissing originated with medieval knights as a way to find out if their wives had been drinking while they were away fighting.

The average person will spend an estimated two weeks of their lives kissing!

Ancient Egyptians kissed with their noses. Eskimos, Polynesians and Malaysians still do.

Saliva contains antibacterial chemicals that kill most bacteria before the germs are passed on during a kiss. Some say the extra saliva helps prevent tooth decay by cleaning out your mouth!

Our brains have special neurons than help us find each other's lips in the dark.

In Europe it is proper etiquette to greet someone by kissing them on both cheeks.

The longest documented kiss is 29 hours by contestants in 1998 in New York.

In some parts of America kissing is illegal. It was considered a crime in Hartford Connecticut for a husband to kiss his wife on a Sunday! And in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, it was a crime to kiss a stranger!

A first kiss is a good way to work out if there is any chemistry between you.If it's right, it boosts self-esteem and makes you feel good about yourself.

Kissing signals our brain to produce oxytocin, a hormone that makes us feel good.It's a scientific fact that biology causes one kiss to prompt another!