You ever heard the saying, “laughter is the best medicine”? Turns out there’s a lot of truth to it. When we laugh, the body produces pain-relieving hormones called endorphins. But endorphins do a lot more than just make us feel good. They slow down our blood pressure and improve heart health.
Laughter also connects us with people. It helps us develop social bonds and relationships. And happy relationships and a great life are tied together.
Here’s a fun challenge…keep a laughter journal.
Start a journal this month. Record every moment that made you laugh – something your kid says, a joke you read, or a snippet of a conversation you overheard in passing. Life is full of funny moments, recording them helps us laugh a little more. And laughing a little more can improve our health a lot.
According to the Help Guide…
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, thus improving your resistance to disease.
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. OK, 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—which could be enough to lose three or four pounds over the course of a year.
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. A study in Norway found that people with a strong sense of humor outlived those who don’t laugh as much. The difference was particularly notable for those battling cancer.
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