Healthy Benefits of Laughter

Laughter has a lot of healthy benefits. According to the Mayo Clinic Staff, it is an excellent method to release stress, boost spirits, and reduce depression. Laughing also stimulates organs and muscles.

Dr. Lee Berk, a professor at Loma Linda University in California, studied the benefits of chortling for nearly three decades. According to Time magazine, he considers laughing to have benefits comparable to those of a diet. The reason is that the connection between mind, hormone, and immune systems equally impact the mood, the body’s ability to defeat diseases and the level of stress.

Here are the most significant benefits of giggling.

1. It Releases Feel-good Endorphins

Besides the benefits for health, laughter helps people to get through bad times. As Wonders List stated, laughing releases feel-good endorphins which have anti-anxiety benefits. It also boosts mood and improves the self-irony and sense of humor.

2. Laughter Boosts Immunity

According to LifeHack, the chemical reactions caused by stress weaken the immune system. Laughter strengthens immunity by boosting the number of T cells, which produce antibodies. Besides fighting colds and coughs, laughing keeps the heart healthy. It also lessens blood pressure and enhances blood flow, reducing the chances of experiencing a heart attack or stroke.

3. It Reduces Depression And Relieves Pain

Laughing reduces stress and anxiety, factors that contribute to depression. According to Wonders List, people who experience a difficult period in their life should use the laughter therapy to induce a well-being feeling. Moreover, the British researchers found that giggling can lead to a temporary form of pain relief, by offering calmness.

4. Laughing Improves Body Systems

Laughter not only helps the immune system and heart but also improves the entire body’s system. It stimulates the respiratory system, strengthens muscles and energizes. Moreover, as Mayo Clinic stated, it assists the caloric expenditure because it contracts the abs. Also, laughing uses the diaphragm in an exercise helpful for singing or communicating.

5. It Connects People

Laughing improves social interactions. It also lessens tension between people. According to Wonders List, men fall in love easily with women who laugh in their presence. It seems like women know this, as they giggle 125 percent more than the opposite sex. Furthermore, the sense of humor keeps relationships running smoothly, and increases self-confidence, which induces optimism.

Laughing Is Contagious

Laughing is a means to spread positive energy. Living in a world with increased stressors, being able to chortle is one of the most powerful skills one can possess. According to Wonders List, laughter is contagious and leads to happy relationships.

Audrey Hepburn believed that giggling was the most significant quality of a person, while George Gordon Byron thought it was the cheapest medicine. Victor Borge believed that “laughter is the shortest distance between two people,” while Bob Newhart assumed that it provides distance. The latter admitted that laughing allows people to deal with an issue easily, after analyzing it with a clear mind.

A Lot of Benefits

So, laughing has a lot of healthy benefits. It helps a person from many points of view. Laughter boosts the immune system, it protects the heart and respiratory system, and it releases stress and pain. It also lessens depression and provides good endorphins which have calming benefits.

Moreover, laughing helps people to build a stable and happy relationship with others. It creates a connection built on confidence and humor, which are powerful spirit boosters. Besides, there is a saying: “A laugh a day keeps wrinkles away,” so why not?

By Bianca-Ramona Dumitru
Edited by Cathy Milne

Sources:

LifeHack: 9 Surprising Benefits Of Laughter You Need To Know
Mayo Clinic: Stress relief from laughter? It’s no joke
TIME: You Asked: Does Laughing Have Real Health Benefits?
Wonders List: 10 Benefits of Laughter

Image Courtesy of Todd F Niemand‘s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License