Why do we share jokes with each other? Play games, make silly faces, or play silly games? Because fun is good for the soul. And as it turns out, laughter can have other benefits too.
Laughing can help to boost moods, but is also known to help reduce stress and can have positive physical effects as well.
The actual process of laughing has an immediate effect on your body. It can have an impact on not only your mind, but also your body, and is a great form of release. Taking time to have fun, be silly, and laugh with one another is a good way to keep you young at heart but also in mind and body.
Above all, laughing is good for your mental and emotional health. It can help lift your mood, brings positive feelings with the release of endorphins, and can help with anxiety and depression.
Hand in hand with mood boost side effects, is the reduction of stress. Laughing increases the amount of oxygen you are breathing in, which can lower levels of cortisol, the hormone that causes stress.
Laughing releases endorphins, the ‘happy hormone’ which has positive effects on your body and mind. It is also a hormone that helps increase your pain tolerance, making you less likely to notice your aches and pains.
It may be surprising to hear, but laughing can be good for your heart - literally! Like in the case of reducing stress, the increase in the amount of oxygen in your bloodstream which comes from laughing (simply by deep inhales) can increase your heart rate, and your oxygen intake. This helps to keep your heart strong. Though laughing is less effective in this area than, say, exercise, it is a great positive side effect of laughter. Laughing often will keep your heart active and strong.
Laughing can also help to boost your immune system. The act of laughing causes a release of antibodies in your body that help fight against infection.
Reducing stress - a positive effect of laughing - can also help you relax and relieve muscle tension because it increases your circulation.
Finding time to laugh can have so many positive effects. Take time to tell some jokes, play games, or share funny stories with friends or loved ones - it’s good for you!