Get Your Giggle On

Updated: Aug 8, 2019

“Laughter is wine for the soul - laughter soft, or loud and deep, tinged through with seriousness - the hilarious declaration made by man that life is worth living.”

- Sean O'Casey

A Good Belly Laugh

Have you ever laughed so hard you ended up crying? Or, laughed so hard your stomach and sides hurt? It's one of the best feelings in the world, right?

Well, take heart, as research shows the health benefits of laughing are far-ranging. Laughter can help relieve pain, bring greater happiness, increase immunity and it also helps increase blood flow.

Positive Psychology states; "The propensity for laughing is one of the 24 main signature strengths one can possess."

So Much to Love

One author wrote; "There is already so much to love for laughter that it seems greedy to look for more." How true is that statement!

But there is more. There is a lot more in the form of health benefits. Research done at the Loma Linda University in California identified the benefits of laughter and found amazing results.

Lowers Blood Pressure - When you lower your blood pressure, you reduce the risk of stroke and heart attack even if you start at normal levels. A great reason to read the Sunday comics!
Reduces Stress Hormone Levels - Laughter reduces the level of stress hormones like cortisol, adrenaline, dopamine and growth hormone while it increases the level of health-enhancing hormones like endorphins!
Works Your Abs - A good old belly laugh exercises the diaphragm, contracts the abs and even works out the shoulders leaving muscles more relaxed after. Laughter is a great cardio workout. It gets your heart pumping and burns a similar amount of calories per hour as walking at a slow to moderate pace. Image that!
Boosts T-Cells - When you laugh you activate T-cells (specialized immune system cells) that immediately begin to help you fight off sickness. Feel that cold coming on? Time to get your 'giggle on'.
Triggers the Release of Endorphins - Endorphins are the body's natural painkillers. When you laugh, you release endorphins which can help ease chronic pain and make you feel good all over.
Perspective and Sense of Well-Being - Laughter brings the focus away from anger, guilt, stress and negative emotions. Doctors found that people who have a positive outlook on life tend to fight diseases better than people who tend to be more negative.

Create a Laugh Habit

Laughter is beneficial but it is also FREE and convenient! Laughter connects us with others.

Laughter is contagious just like smiling and kindness.

Create a habit of laughing with friends - have a fun friend night and play games or watch a funny movie or do some karaoke. (That can really make you laugh.)

Look for humor in your life. Take life's frustrations and try to laugh it out (or dance it out and you will surely laugh). Approach life in a more joyful way and discover how less stressed you get when things don't go as planned.

Fake it until you make it. Did you know the positive effects of smiling occur whether the smile is fake or real? It's the same with laughter. Your body can't distinguish between 'fake' laughter that you start doing on purpose and 'real' laughter that occurs from true humor.