Some wise old owl once said that laughter is the best medicine. And guess what? We all laughed it off. Literally. For years people questioned the science behind hysterical laughing, knowing that it sure made you feel good, but was there anything really beneficial behind it? Turns out, there is. Baahaha!
by Yasemin Trollope
New research conducted by Loma Linda University has found that laughter can have the same positive benefits on your body as exercise.
But we’re not talking giggles here, we’re talking full on gut-busting, cheek-aching laughing; the kind Dr. Lee Berk (the man behind the study at Loma Linda) refers to as laughercise. Or, in general terms, the repetitive laughter known as mirthful laughter.
Laughercise can do magical things like reduce levels of cortisol (the stress hormone), up your endorphins, reduce blood pressure and give your immune system a great big kick up the butt. While another study has shown that laughter may even be able to help reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease, thanks to its ability make your blood vessels function more efficiently.
Clearly this is great news for all of us, especially anyone who can’t exercise due to illness or injury. But even if you’re willing, able and actively exercising regularly, why wouldn’t you want to laugh yourself stupid anyway? I know I do.
It’s a known fact that you can’t be unhappy when you’re laughing, smiling, or even chuckling to yourself. Science or not, there’s a definite link between feeling positive and uplifted when you’re laughing.
So, next time you’re in the park, or in your bedroom, or on the toilet, why not start chuckling to yourself? Seriously. The key, according to laughing experts, is to start off fake laughing and then eventually all those fake laughs will make you laugh for real. It’s magic. I do it all the time. In fact, I’m doing it right now.
Stay Happy,
Yaz x
