Is Laughter Truly The Greatest Cure?
Do you need some encouragement? Consider engaging in a lighthearted film or enjoying a fun activity with your buddies. Laughing improves your mood quickly and is beneficial to your general well-being.
Here are five reasons that laughing is actually the best kind of treatment:
Laughter can elevate your spirits and give you a sense of fulfillment in addition to alleviating stress. Laughter lowers cortisol, adrenaline, and dopamine—the three stress hormones, according to research. Because laughter can stop the release of these stress hormones, Dr. Lee Berk, an associate professor at Loma Linda University and the study’s team lead, stated, “…seeking out positive experiences that make us laugh does a lot to our physiology to stay well.”
According to Berk, laughter has been linked to health advantages such as increased blood flow and lower levels of inflammation. Other research from Western Kentucky University has connected laughter to an increase in immunity, maybe due to an increased number of natural killer cells that help to battle disease.
A Coping Mechanism
Laughter in times of adversity almost always has positive effects. According to studies, 50% of cancer patients utilize humor as a kind of therapy. * One cancer survivor stated that during his treatment, “Anger, depression, and denial took a small piece of me with them. However, laughter made me more open to new ideas, more welcoming to others, and even a little stronger on the inside.”
Pain Reduction
Could you laugh the suffering away? Researchers from Switzerland have found that comedy and laughing can raise one’s pain threshold, most likely due to the release of endorphins, which alleviate tense muscles. Laughter is also a useful diversion from discomfort and disease.
Standard of Living
Having fun with friends and family is a social activity that has many advantages, as it improves our mood and provides us with energy. Laughing will undoubtedly increase your enjoyment and quality of life, regardless of whether it has been shown to have health advantages, according to WebMD.
Marc Potter, LCSW at Intermountain Health said, “The rumor you’ve heard is true—laughing when you aren’t happy will definitely lift your mood. Practicing laughter and smiling can have measurable benefits.”
Ever heard of laughter yoga? You can try this 10-minute session on your own or with friends. You may be surprised just how contagious the laughter is. Potter added, “Laughter is a skill—a skill that can be developed. Try laughter yoga with a friend; it’s fun!”
Though laughter isn’t a cure all, it doesn’t have any negative side effects, improves healing, and reduces stress—so shouldn’t we try and laugh more often? Along with a balanced diet and regular exercise, laughter is a wonderful and fun way to enhance your health.
Laughter is not a replacement for proven and accepted therapies.
Read Also: Five All Natural Treatments That May Help Prevent Cancer
