laughing catA robust laugh gives your diaphragm, thorax, abdomen, heart, and  lungs, a brief workout.It works out the shoulders and leaving the muscles more relaxed afterward. Laughing with gusto will turn your body into a big vibrator and performs an internal massage.

Research has shown health benefits of laughter ranging from strengthening the immune system to reducing food cravings to increasing one’s threshold for pain.

Stress management/ Benefit of laughter:

Laughter reduces the level of stress hormones. It increases the level of health- enhancing hormones like endorphins. Endorphins are among the brain chemicals known as neurotransmitters, which function to transmit electrical signals within the nervous system.

How Endorphins act as a natural Pain killers and Stress Fighters?

Endorphins interact with the opiate receptors in the brain to reduce our perception of pain and act similarly to drugs such as Morphine. Secretion of Endorphins leads to feeling s of euphoria, modulation of appetite, release of sex hormones and enhancement of the immune response. With the increase of endorphin levels, there is feeling of less pain and fewer negative effects of stress. Endorphin is released when we exercise, though endorphin release varies among individuals. Certain foods such as chocolate or chili peppers, can also lead to enhanced  secretion of endorphins.. In the case of the chili peppers, the spicier the more endorphins are secreted. The release of endorphins upon ingestion of chocolate seemingly explains that ‘comforting feelings’ that many of us experience after eating chocolate and the craving for it in times of stress. One can also try engaging in various activities  to increase the body’s endorphin levels. Acupuncture and massage therapy have shown to stimulate endorphin secretion. Sex is also a potent trigger for endorphin release.The practice of meditation can also increase the amount of endorphins released in the body.

Laughter is free, convenient and beneficial in so many ways. You can get more laughter in your life with the following strategies:

1. There’s no shortage of laughter opportunities from the entertainment be it on T.V. or in movies.

2. Go to a movie or comedy bar with friends. The contagious effect of laughter may mean more laugh than you ever thought . Share jokes with friends.

3. Studies show the positive effects of smiling occur whether the smile is fake or real. Fake laughter  also gives the benefits mentioned above. So smile more and fake laughter.

Instead of complaining about life’s misfortunes and frustrations, try to laugh about them. If there’s something that is so disappointing and even depressing, always realize that you could look back on it and laugh! Think of how it will sound as a story and if it can be turned into a humorous one, why not?With this kind of attitude , you can also find yourself more lighthearted and silly, giving yourself and those around you more to laugh about. Approach life in a more mirthful manner and you’ll have a less stressed life.

Study shows that kids laugh an average of 307 times a day as compare to 17 times for adults. What happened to the latter? There many factors involved: personal and family problems including cares of this life, hopelessness, etc. But depending on the outlook of a person, he/she can laugh even in the midst of trials.

Meantime lets have some fun watching the following videos:

1. Some of the Best Baby Laughters I have ever heard:

2. Bulgarian contestant who doesn’t know how to speak english sung “Can’t Live” by Mariah Carey in American Idol

3. Evolution of Dancing 1

4. Evolution of Dancing 2

Laughter connects us with others, it’s also contagious, so if you can have more laughter in your life, you can most likely help others around you to laugh more and likewise benefit from it. You can reduce their stress levels, and reduce your stress level even more.

A piece of advice

Sometimes it’s good to remove our ‘glasses’ to detach our “smart image” from our real self. Being silly sometimes will make us more human because we come to realize the essence of our true self. Laughing makes us come out of our shell. The next time you want to laugh and thought of your “smarty-goody” image. Think again. Be yourself! After all,  Life is what you make it.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.