Laughter really is the best medicine

We’ve known for a long time that a good old belly laugh can turn a bad day into a good one but it seems that the benefits of laughing go far beyond just putting us in a good mood. Below is a list of the far reaching benefits of laughter, so if you were looking for a reason to get your giggle on then keep reading!

1. It banishes stress
Science has proven that laughter triggers the release of our feel good endorphins (serotonin) into the blood stream, whilst lowering our stress hormones and making us feel relaxed.

2. It boosts your heart
According to researchers from the University of Maryland in the US, the act of laughing boosts blood flow and widens the arteries, whereas mental stress is known to narrow them.

3. It cures a cold
Medical research scientist Dr Lee Berk found that the physiological effects of laughter can actually help us to defend viruses and bacteria as well as increasing the antibodies which help is to fight colds and infections.

4. It will boost your appetite
If you have lost your appetite as a result of stress then get laughing because according to US researcher Dr Lee Berk, it brings about the same hormonal changes we experience after exercise which are thought to increase our appetite.

5. Its good for your lungs
The University of Michigan has found a 20 second belly-laugh to be just as beneficial to the lung as three minutes on a rowing machine and it has the added bonus of helping to tighten those tummy muscles!

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Written by Emma Hilton
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Written by Emma Hilton
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