Laughter really is the Best Medicine
Laughter is a powerful antidote to STRESS and positively affects your Cortisol levels – nothing works faster to bring your mind and body back into balance than a good laugh. It has the power to heal and renew It relaxes the whole body and boosts the immune system, including reducing serum levels of hormones Cortisol and Growth Hormone. [1]
By Laughing we trigger the release of the body’s natural feel-good chemical, endorphins. This in turn can help promote the feeling of well-being as well as reduce pain temporarily.
Laughter improves the function of blood vessels, so increasing blood flow and that helps protect the heart as well as boosting the flow of nutrients to, and waste from, the cells.
Laughter and humour help you stay emotionally healthy too – and that feel-good factor remains for hours afterwards.
Ideas to create opportunities to Laugh:
Watch a funny movie or TV show, or listen to a funny radio show.
Read a funny book
Play with your pet
Do something silly
Make time for fun activities
Share a good joke or funny story
Go to a fun exercise or yoga class
[1] Am J Med Sci. 1989 Dec;298(6):390-6.
Neuroendocrine and stress hormone changes during mirthful laughter.
Berk LS1, Tan SA, Fry WF, Napier BJ, Lee JW, Hubbard RW, Lewis JE, Eby WC.