The Amazing Health Benefits of Laughter
We’ve all heard the phrase, “laughter is the best medicine,” but did you know there’s actual science behind this phrase? Laughing out loud has a vast number of health benefits that can help boost physical, emotional and mental health.
Why Laughing is Good for You
When you have a good chuckle your brain releases endorphins, which are natural painkillers known to promote a positive feeling throughout the body. Laughter also ensures that oxygen-rich blood reaches vital organs, stimulating blood flow and improving cardiovascular health. Additionally, laughing has a mild diaphragmatic massage effect, which helps to stimulate internal organs, improve digestion, reduce food blocks, and promote relaxation.
Physical Benefits of Laughing
One of the most significant health benefits of laughing is the effect it has on boosting the immune system. When your immune system is strong, your body can more easily fight infections and illnesses. Laughing can reduce the number of stress hormones in the body and change cortisol levels and the sympathetic nervous system. Reducing these factors enable health substances to come directly into the cancer growth site and destroy the quickly-dividing cancer cells.
Emotional Benefits of Laughing
About a quarter of laughter is physiological, stimulated from within by the pituitary gland. Emotionally, laughter is essential to communicate instant, friendly feelings and help socially bind us together. It helps diffuse disagreements and humbles us.
In another way of saying, laughter connects us on an emotional level, which furthers our sociability and willingness to interact and impress desire to care and give others empathy. It starts a positive, self-fulfilling loop of confidence when its shared, which brings relaxation into their lives—a great step-forward attitude for those who suffer from anxiety or depression.
Mental Benefits of Laughing
The benefits you enjoy from laughter vary depends on your living situations. Still, these effects can range from improved stress resilience, greater empathy, positivity orientated towards your environment, increased exposure in alternative lifestyle paths, and access to better representation for individuals regardless of unique persuasions. Laughing creates productive areas inside of individuals because it diminishes repetitive and intrusive rumination associated with depression and other mood/emotional disorders.
Final Thoughts
There are massive physical, emotional, and social health benefits of going through life with a smile and often using humor as defusing or coping, even in uncomfortable situations. You don’t have to live every day in sunshine and send everyone, candy bags, and teddy bears from Thankful and Grateful! But committing to laughing more and adopting an optimistic attitude can significantly improve your life that is very worthwhile. So, go ahead and laugh out loud, and you’ll see just how fantastic it can be for your health, mentally and physically!