Curious about the Weight Loss and Physical Benefits of Laughter?
I bet you’ve never thought of reading about the physical benefits of laughter on a weight loss site, have you? Read on to see how laughter therapy helps you lose weight… while having fun!
"Laughing is the sensation of feeling good all over and showing it principally in one spot."
Josh Billings, American humorist
Believe it or not, laughter therapy is a great weight loss booster. There are tons of lengthy scientific papers about the physical benefits of laughter, which you certainly won’t be amused to read, so here’s just a brief summary:
Weight Loss Benefits of Laughter
Laughter stimulates both sides of your brain and lowers the harmful levels of stress hormones like epinephrine, cortisol, and dopamine, responsible for your increased weight-gain (Paul J. Rosch, M.D., president of the American Institute of Stress)
Laughter is a true "internal jogging" that increases your breathing, your body temperature, your metabolism, your heart rate, and your pulse (Steven M. Sultanoff, Ph.D., president of the American Association for Therapeutic Humor)
Laughter is great aerobics: it provides a good workout for your midsection and your diaphragm, boosts your blood flow and increases your body's ability to use oxygen to burn off more calories (Michael Miller - University of Maryland, Baltimore)
Laughter is an all-over body workout: it massages your abdominal organs, improves your intestinal functioning, tones and strengthens your facial, respiratory, leg, and back muscles (Paul E. McGhee, Ph.D., popular author of numerous books on the health benefits of laughter, including "Psycho-neuro-immunology and Humor")
If you have diabetes, makes sure you put laughter on your plate, as it decreases the usual spike in your blood sugar after a meal (Japanese researchers Hayashi & Murakami)
Laughter increases your physical energy and self-esteem, making you much more likely to exercise, which you might otherwise avoid (according to a study done at the University of Maryland Medical Center)
Ten minutes of hearty laughter daily would burn an average of five pounds a year (according to the researchers from Vanderbilt University in Tennessee)
There’s no doubt - laughter is a great thing and the physical benefits of laughter are too many to count.
You've certainly heard the saying, "laughter is the best medicine", right?
To cite again Josh Billings, "There ain’t much fun in medicine, but there’s a heck of a lot of medicine in fun."
Having fun is essential to your health and laughter does some pretty amazing stunts in your body. Here are more health benefits of laughter.
More Physical Benefits of Laughter
Laughter increases your endorphins levels, giving you the "feel good" sensation
Laughter decreases your dopamine levels - a stress neuro-hormone responsible for the "fight or flight response", caused by fear, stress, rage, or hostility, and associated with elevated blood pressure and the risk of stroke
Laughing relaxes your whole body and reduces problems associated with arthritis and ulcers
Regular laughter provides you with an excellent source of cardiac exercise and lowers your resting heart rates
Laughter strengthens your immune system increasing infection-fighting antibodies and alleviating any allergic symptoms you might experience
Laughter increases your respiration, causing a profound process of air exchange at the blood capillaries level; as a result, oxygenated blood feeds your entire body, including your brain, with a great positive impact on your thinking and learning
Not Just Physical Benefits of Laughter
Besides the physical benefits of laughter, there are important psychological, emotional, and social benefits as well. Take a look.
Laughter fosters positive thinking and replaces your distressing emotions with pleasurable feelings - you can’t possibly feel angry, depressed, anxious, guilty, or resentful and laugh at the same time
Laughter reduces significantly your psychological stress by giving you a different perspective on your life and world (it’s not certain situations that generate your stress, but the meaning you place on those situations)
Laughing is a great team building tool as it unleashes inhibitions, enhances your self-esteem and your behavior, your ability to connect, talk more, and make more eye contact with others
So don’t miss the chance of experiencing the physical benefits of laughter for yourself - have a bit of fun with the funniest weight loss jokes >>
