There’s a reason they say that laughter is the best medicine. Laughing and smiling have a lot of health benefits you can use to your advantage. Besides, who doesn’t love to laugh?
Laughing Is Exercise
Hitting a comedy show or telling your friends jokes won’t substitute for a real workout routine. But laughing does help you work out, in a way.
First, good, long laughs can strengthen your heart. Not only does it get your heart going, it can burn calories similar to going on a slow walk. We all need cardio, and laughing is an easy way to get it!
Second, laughing works your abs. We don’t use every muscle all the time. But laughing helps you use your abs without hitting the gym! Those muscles expand and contract when you laugh, which tones them like a couple of sit-ups might.
Release Your Stress
Laughter helps you work out more than your body. You can put a stressful situation into perspective with a laugh–and it’s important to be able to laugh at yourself every so often! It helps you not take problems or flaws so seriously.
Releases Endorphins
Like smiling, the act of laughing triggers those feel-good hormones in your brain. Endorphins help decrease pain, boost your mood, and reduce stress. Plus, it will relax your whole body, which decreases tension throughout your muscles.
With as good as laughter feels, is it any wonder that we love to laugh? Go find a reason to laugh today! Then, you can smile knowing that you’re already that much healthier.