laughter-benefits-related stories
Laugh Your Butt Off - Science Says You Can
The Passion Principle, Diet & Weight Loss, Motivation
Laughing is a cardiovascular workout. No joke. Not only does a mirthful expression of joy help increase your heart rate, it can also tone your muscles, improve circulation, energize your breathing and raise endorphin levels. Faking a smile can even make you feel happier.
Psychiatrist and laughter researcher Dr. William Fry, adjunct associate professor emeritus at Stanford University medical school, has been telling people for years that laughing is good for your health. And it turns out it could be beneficial for reducing your own, ahem, bottom line. Dr. Fry claims that laughing 100 times during a 24-hour period has the same cardiovascular benefit as rowing a rowing machine for 10 minutes or riding a stationary bike for 15.
The act of laughing raises your blood pressure and heart rate -- this is a reaction to the hormones released when you burst out in a guffaw. Your cancer-fighting ability increases too, because more of your disease fighting T-cells are released, thus boosting your immune system. And you get even happier because your stress hormones are lowered and feel-good endorphins elevate. Talk about a win-win situation!
Laugh Your Way Thin - 6 Reasons Why It Works
I love to laugh and even find myself laughing when alone, thinking of a funny situation or something comedic a good friend of mine said. Heck, it is not uncommon to see me smiling or laughing when I'm walking my huge Golden Retriever named Tucker, who happens to be bigger than I am. He is well-trained, except for when it comes to little furry creatures like rabbits or squirrels. One time, I was standing in my front yard with Tucker and many of the neighborhood kids were hanging out, playing ball, skateboarding and just having fun. All of a sudden, a rabbit dashed across my lawn and before I knew it, I was laying on my back with arms and legs spread wide ... luckily the grass was soft! I laughed and laughed as all of the kids' eyes were upon me, in a rather uncompromising position, still holding onto Tucker's leash while he gazed longingly in the direction of the lucky rabbit that had disappeared! That laughter, it turns out, actually was helping rev my metabolism. Yes, laying there in my front lawn! Making light of the situation turned out to have more benefits than I could have ever imagined!
I figured it's about time to get you to lighten up too ... literally! Check out the photo gallery below for six reasons why laughter could help you melt away the pounds!
