Health Benefits of Laughter…

Laugh more. It appears that laughing not only makes you feel great but has emotional health benefits as well. In the last few decades, researchers have studied the effects of laughter on the body and found that it improves mood, improves immune function, reduces anxiety, lowers blood pressure, lowers blood sugar levels, eases stress, and is associated with creativity and emotional stability. When We Laugh, we change physiologically. We stretch muscles throughout our face and body, our pulse rises, and we breathe faster, sending more oxygen to our tissues. The benefits of laughter actually offer some of the same advantages as a workout.

Think about how good you feel after a big belly laugh. Reward yourself with a night out at a local comedy club. Take a friend to a funny movie. Start a weekly game night with your family to play your favorite board game, or charades. Pop in a comedy tape or CD instead of listening to music next time you exercise. Curl up with a book by your favorite comedian at the end of a long day. One study of 19 people with diabetes looked at the effects of laughter on blood sugar levels. After eating, the group attended a tedious lecture. On the next day, the group ate the same meal and then watched a comedy. After the comedy, the group had lower blood sugar levels than they did after the lecture. So… start a diet of Marx Brothers films and Candid Camera. Laugh hard. Laugh often.