Love your Brain, Love your Body, Love your Life Campaign
We chose laughter as our first tip because it’s an immediate antidote to stress, it’s fast, simple and anyone can do it.
Smiling, laughing, and positive thinking have been shown to have a huge number of health benefits to both mind and body.
-When you laugh, your body releases endorphins, the bodies natural feel good chemicals. They are also a natural pain and stress reliever, and promote an overall since of wellbeing.
-Laughing reduces levels of stress hormones like cortisol, allowing for improved memory performance and significantly increases cell proliferation.
-A good laugh can be beneficial to the lungs by enhancing your intake of oxygen and stimulates your heart by increasing blood flow and improves the function of your blood vessels which can help protect against heart disease.
-Laughing can even burn off calories.
-Laughter boosts the immune system by decreasing stress hormones and increasing immune cells and infection fighting antibodies. This improves your resistance to disease.
-Laughter relaxes the whole body and mind. A good laugh relieves physical tension and stress leaving your muscles relaxed up to an hour later.
-Smiley, happy people are thought to have more friends and be more successful, by appearing more confident and approachable.
“Simply using the same muscles as smiling will put you in a happier mood,” explains Dr Michael Lewis, psychologist at Cardiff University.
So make it a goal everyday to find a way to laugh:
-Read a cartoon strip
-Watch a funny video
-Listen or tell a joke
-Seek out a funny person
-Laugh at yourself
-Emulate a child
Laughter is contagious so not only can you improve your health but the health of others around you. Start today’s daily laugh with this"Laughing Baby" video.
Check back with us every Monday and Thursday for more tips and information on how to have a Better Brain, Better Body and Better Life.
Resources: mayoclinic.com; netdoctor.co.uk; helpguide.org
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