Laugh it Up…It’s Good for You!
5 Reasons to have a Really Good Belly Laugh!
- Laughter boosts your immune system. According to studies, laughter helps to boost your immune system and may even increase the number of cancer-killing cells in your body. Doing something that feels good and is good for you? I’m in!
- Laughter release endorphins. Speaking of feeling good – when you laugh, you trigger a release of endorphins {those yummy feel-good chemicals}. These chemicals triggered by the brain, are the reason you feel so happy when you laugh – isn’t that the BEST feeling! The more you laugh, the better you’ll feel, so do it as often as you can!
- Laughter connects us with others. Think about how you feel when you’re laughing with someone. You feel connected, right? Even if you don’t know the person well, you feel bonded with him or her. – Forming connections has a positive impact on our lives — and laughter is a great way to connect.
- Laughter protects your heart. Apparently laughing has some healthy heart benefits. Laughing can lead to improved blood flow and cut down on high blood pressure. Heart troubles are unfortunately pretty common — which is why we should all start laughing more often to ward them off. Fact: One pioneer in laughter research, William Fry, claimed it took ten minutes on a rowing machine for his heart rate to reach the level it would after just one minute of hearty laughter. I’m sure it’s more fun too.
- Laughter keeps us present. When you’re laughing, you’re focused on whatever is funny in that moment. You’re not worried about the past or the future. You’re in the now. Though you might not realize it, laughter really is one of the best ways to stay present.
These are just a few of the benefits of having a good laugh. Ultimately laughter offers us a break from the hard parts of life – a chance to escape, but for a few moments. No matter how badly you feel, how broken your heart is, how tough things seem, laughter has the ability to pick you up and bring you a respite from unhappiness – and it’s free. It really is the best medicine. So…show those pearly whites and laugh it up!
