National Let’s Laugh Day

It’s National Let’s Laugh Day

There are so many benefits to the actual response of laughter. So many studies have been done on both the emotional as well as physical benefits of laughing. Whether it’s stimulated through images, sounds, physical sensations or memories.

Here is just a few of the known benefits to laughing.

1. Laughter has been shown to reduce stress hormones. It’s been shown that the lack of laughter in our lives can have a behavioral impact. But, by lessening the stress hormones, by activities such as laughter, our overall health and well being can be improved.
2. Another positive side of the hormonal impact, laughter can also increase the number of beneficial hormones like endorphins and neurotransmitters in our bodies. By increasing the level of endorphins in our body, studies have shown that our threshold for pain is increased, so in a sense, laughter is a painkiller! I’ll take that!
3. Laughter can even go so far as to help you stay healthy. It has been widely researched that laughter increases antibodies which in turn helps our bodies fight off illness and infection.
4.  Aside from all of the internal benefits, laughter can also be a natural way to exercise. Just think about it, when was the last time you laughed so hard your sides hurt? If you have to think too long, then it’s been way too long! !Because when laughter causes your sides to hurt, it’s because laughter engages the diaphragm  and stomach muscles! I’ll take laughter any old day over sit ups!! Can I get an, “amen!”
5. One more thing, as far as physical exercise, when we laugh hard, we are also exercising our facial muscles and depending on your style of laugh, you can work out your back, legs, shoulders and arm muscles. I’d say that’s worthy of another, “amen!” Maybe even a BIG, “AMEN!”
6. Studies have also shown laughter to lower our blood pressure.
7. Laughing also increases the blood flow to our hearts which causes the heart rate to increase temporarily, which then increases the amount of oxygen flowing to the brain. Increased oxygen levels in the brain promote healthier brain function.
8. Also, laughter can improve our memory! YESSSS
9. Laughing also shows to improve our overall mood and level of happiness. They say that even forced laughter will boost our spirits.
10. Laughter has also been shown to improve our sense of creativity.

So, to all of this, I say let’s celebrate today National Let’s Laugh Day but not just today for I say…laugh long, laugh hard and laugh often, my friends!

Wendy xox