Laughter is strong medicine. It draws people together in ways that trigger healthy physical and emotional changes in the body. Laughter strengthens your immune system, boosts mood, diminishes pain, and protects you from the damaging effects of stress. Nothing works faster or more dependably to bring your mind and body back into balance than a good laugh. Humor lightens your burdens, inspires hope, connects you to others, and keeps you grounded, focused, and alert. It also helps you release anger and forgive sooner. (It can do so much, but not the washing or grocery shopping – sigh.)
With so much power to heal and renew, the ability to laugh easily and frequently is a tremendous resource for surmounting problems, enhancing your relationships, and supporting both physical and emotional health. Best of all, this priceless medicine is fun, free, and easy to use.
As children, we used to laugh hundreds of times a day, but as adults, life tends to be more serious (nuh uh – check this vid out!) and laughter more infrequent. By seeking out more opportunities for humor and laughter, you can improve your emotional health, strengthen your relationships, find greater happiness—and even add years to your life.
Laughter is good for your health: Laughter relaxes the whole body. A good, hearty laugh relieves physical tension and stress, leaving your muscles relaxed for up to 45 minutes after.
Laughter boosts the immune system: Laughter decreases stress hormones and increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, improving resistance to disease. Laughter stimulates your diaphragm, which boosts your lymphatic system, increasing the rate at which toxins are removed from your body.
Laughter triggers the release of endorphins: the body’s natural feel-good chemicals. Endorphins promote an overall sense of well-being and can even temporarily relieve pain.
Laughter protects the heart: Laughter improves the function of blood vessels and increases blood flow, which can help protect you against a heart attack and other cardiovascular problems.
Laughter burns calories: Okay, so it’s no replacement for going to the gym, but one study found that laughing for 10 to 15 minutes a day can burn approximately 40 calories. (Rocket = 4 calories per cup, Lettuce = 5 calories per cup, Brussel Sprouts = 38 calories per cup – do you see where I’m going with this? I guess it’s the accumulative effects eh and nothing good to eat is less than 40 calories!)
Laughter lightens anger’s heavy load: Nothing diffuses anger and conflict faster than a shared laugh. Looking at the funny side can put problems into perspective and enable you to move on from confrontations without holding onto bitterness or resentment.
Laughter may even help you to live longer: Doctors have found that people who have a positive outlook on life tend to fight diseases better than those who are more negative. So smile, top that glass up to half full (unless it’s wine – then to the rim!), laugh and live longer!
Laughter works your Abs: One of the benefits of laughter is that it can help tone your abs. When you are laughing, the muscles in your stomach expand and contract, similar to when you intentionally exercise your abs. (Absolutely fabulous – did you see what I did there?)
Laughter boosts your T cells: T-cells are specialized immune system cells just waiting in your body for activation. When you laugh, you activate T-cells that immediately begin to help you fight off sickness. Next time you feel a cold coming on, add snorting with laughter to your illness prevention plan.
Laughter can improve brain function: Since the act of laughing gets the respiratory system going, it in turns increases the amount of oxygen flowing to the brain, promoting healthier brain function.
Laughter can reduce pain: Studies have shown that laughter naturally increases pain tolerance. Laughter produces endorphins, which are your body’s natural pain killers. It can also help to take your mind off any pain you may be experiencing, but obviously the green whistle is better (the fun you have when you aren’t having fun.)
One of the best feelings in the world is the deep-rooted belly laugh. It can bring people together and establish amazing connections. Everything from a slight giggle to a side-splitting guffaw can change the temperature of a room from chilly unfamiliarity to a warm family-like atmosphere.
So let’s get laughing!
What do Alexander the Great and Winnie the Pooh have in common? Same middle name.
I was kidnapped by mimes once. They did unspeakable things to me.
A bear walks into a restaurant. He tells his waiter, “I want a grilled…cheese.” The waiter says, “What’s with the pause?” “Whaddya mean?” the bear replies. “I’m a bear!”
I tried to organize a professional Hide-and-Seek tournament, but it was a complete failure. Good players are hard to find.
My wife accused me of being immature. I told her to get out of my fort.
A couple of blondes got lost at the mall. So they go to the map, where they see the red arrow that says “You are here”. One blonde looks at the other and exclaims “Wow! How did they know that?
