Did you know the positive effects of laughter can last up to 45 minutes — lowering stress, reducing depression and helping your mind and body heal. Researchers actually recommend at least 15 minutes of laughter each day to help improve your heart health.
Are you getting your daily dose?
In addition to helping manage your stress, here are some other benefits to laughing more:
- Laughter produces activities in cells that attack viruses and tumor cells, so frequent laughers are generally healthier.
- Laughers look younger than frowners.
- Frequent belly laughing gives your lungs a cleansing effect, similar to deep breathing.
- It is easier to laugh than frown. It takes 72 muscles to frown and only 14 to laugh.
- Humor increases energy, and with more energy, you can perform activities you might otherwise avoid.
- Laughter is an aerobic activity — it provides a workout for your diaphragm and increases your ability to use oxygen.
- Telling a joke connects you with other people.
- Laughter produces endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers that provide a general sense of well-being.
- Belly laughs are equal to an internal jog — providing good cardiac conditioning, especially to individuals who aren’t able to perform physical activity.
- Humor helps you keep things in perspective.
*Information referenced sourced from our vendor Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois
