Have a meal first. Researchers at Norway’s University of Oslo have found that “soft caresses” don’t feel as good if you’re hungry. “Touch pleasantness was higher after a meal than without, and brain activation was higher after a meal than without,” the research team said. The scientists believe the gut hormone gherlin, also known as the “hunger hormone,” is not only linked to the desire for food but to pleasure more broadly “Our results show that, beyond its established role as an appetite-stimulating hormone, ghrelin is also involved in assigning value to social rewards such as touch,” researchers said. One caution: You don’t want to eat too much before getting busy. One doctor suggests waiting about an hour after a big meal before getting it on.