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Overwhelmed by all of the "Follow Friday" recommendations on Twitter? Each week AOL Health's Twitter alias Healthpop and That's_Fit search the Twittersphere for the greatest diet and fitness Twitterers, and each week, we'll highlight the best-of their best tweets (no Twits here). Got any great advice for our Fit Follow Friday post? Give us a shout on Twitter and let us know all about it!

Not only is laughter the best medicine -- it could quite possibly be the best way to work out too. Actually, you're probably laughing right now. See how it works those abs? I told you so.

OK, seriously. An hour of laughing can burn off as many calories as 30 minutes of lifting weights -- no joke. And this could help you shed once dress size or 11 pounds over the course of the year. How does laughing help you lose weight? Leading neuroscientists say it's because a bout of laughter is like a short, intense aerobic workout that uses muscles in both your face and stomach. Plus, laughing helps boost your confidence and ward off depression. Click here for Laura's take on why laughing makes you slim.

So I guess the only question is ... what makes you laugh? For me, this video does it every time.

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Can you laugh your way thin? You'll need to change your diet and exercise habits too, but Laura shares why laughter isn't just the best medicine, it's also good for weight loss.

Sure, we usually call them New Year resolutions, but Jacki has a very good argument for not tying your diet and fitness goals to the calendar.

Even when you're avoiding the inside aisles at the grocery store, sometimes processed foods are a necessity. Here are the 20 worst packaged foods, so you can make a mental note that reads: AVOID.

Alanis Morrisette went vegan to lose 20 pounds and claims that giving up animal products changed her life. Could you make such an extreme lifestyle choice?

Tragic Exercise Face -- Do you suffer from it? And what the heck is it? Kristen has the scoop.

Don't want to spend all day at the grocery store reading food labels? Bev has some quick tips for picking out the most nutritious foods.

Oh, Oprah, Oprah, Oprah. There's nothing more frustrating than having to face weight loss again. Do you think she can slim down one more time and keep it off this time?

So you're sniffling and sneezing ... should you work out? Bev tells you when to hit the gym, and when to stay home under the covers.

Are you having trouble teaching your parents healthy habits? Fitz has advice for adult children whose parents struggling with their weight.

You're eating right and exercising, but still can't seem to squeeze into those skinny jeans? Try cutting back on salt to see if you can shed some water weight.

Speaking of skinny jeans, That's Fit readers lost a whopping 102 pounds this week in our America Takes it Off: Shrink a Size challenge! You rock!! Don't forget to stop by tomorrow for next week's challenge.

Have a great week, everyone!

Life is too short not to be fully "turned on." The Daily Turn On! energizes all aspects of "you." Every Monday The Daily Turn On! with That's Fit Life Fit expert Laura Lewis will provide you with ideas and tips to awaken your mind, your body and your life as you journey through each day of the week! Check in each Monday to get your tip for Turning On every day of your life.

You're an addict. You really are. As members of the human race, we naturally aspire to be happy, joyful, excited, buzzed, elated and "out-of-this-world-blissed out!" We love our "feel good" brain chemicals. Who wouldn't really? Whether we realize it or not, we all strive to attain just the right balance of dopamine, serotonin, cortisol, growth hormone, essential fats, insulin and other naturally occuring "bio"chemicals in our bodies. Fitness lovers, myself included, love the high that comes along with a great workout, right? I know I do. At the end of a particularly stressful day the "pre-workout" Laura looks very different before doing forty-five minutes of cardio and thirty minutes of free weights. I am all smiles ... and naturally high.

The hunger to feel good has a flip side. Hence addiction is a huge problem for many in our society. I should know. My genetic heritage is laden with those who have struggled with alcoholism and prescription drug abuse. My Grandpa Len died from it. He was such a great guy too and I adored him. It's too bad he died at age 57. I still miss him to this day.

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I'm sure you've heard the expression 'laughter is the best medicine' before. But according to one fitness professional, laughter is the best workout too. Take a look at this video from Kerry Beard. It's not a joke -- the workout is based on the idea that laughing not only makes you feel good, it can help you get fit too.

I think this is a great idea -- how fast would a fitness class go by if you were laughing hysterically the whole time? Still, I think it would be hard to find things to laugh about.

Your thoughts?

(via Fitsugar)

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Life Fitness is a process of continuous growth: physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Need motivation and guidance to facilitate positive changes in your life? Ask Life Fit Expert Laura Lewis!

Dear Laura,

I have been single for about five years. I am 43 and a single Mom. I recently started dating a"young man" who is 31. I usually date guys that are the same age or older than I am so you can imagine how shocked I was when I realized he was serious!

I am curious what your thoughts are on older women dating younger men. We have so much fun! We laugh together, have a great passion for each other, and he seems to admire me and my ambitions. I have never felt so good. Yet, there is an underlying feeling that I am doing something "wrong", but my skin, my energy level, my moods, my stress level have all improved dramatically. I can't help but think this must be good for my health!

Thoughts?

S.K., Atlanta, GA

Dear S.K.,

Times are "a changin" my dear. And thank goodness they are when it comes to the world of dating! Did you know, according to this article, that almost 1/3 of all women between the ages of forty and sixty-nine are dating younger men?

Women are finding that going against the "traditional" relationship of days gone by can really make a big difference in their lives. Are they doing it in order to have a soul mate for the rest of their life? Not necessarily! Kathryn Elliott, PhD, assistant professor of psychology at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette says many become... " victims of inner - critic constrictedness " .Women get caught up with the "shoulds" in life instead of letting go. Instead of living your "dating" life with hard and fast rules and you are still not happy, Elliott says to choose a person who has the same "voltage type". As long as you are in sync in a variety of ways, dating someone significantly younger than you, can actually be a lot of fun.

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We've all heard of the healing power of laughter. And while it seems like nothing more than a quaint notion imparted by camp counselors and third grade teachers, there's a growing body of evidence to suggest that it actually has a place in medicine. Perhaps even more incredible is a recent discovery by a team of researchers at Loma Linda University in California, who found that the mere anticipation of laughter can lower stress hormones.

In the study, the anticipation of "mirthful laughter" reduced the levels of three stress hormones – dopac, cortisol, and epinephrine – by 38, 39, and 70 percent, respectively. These findings have implications of particular interest for people who exercise, as it is an increase in these same hormones that can cause muscle breakdown.

This study is just one of many that examines the total body connection; an understanding that the mind, the body, and the spirit work in conjunction to regulate our psychophysiology.

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I know, I know -- everywhere you look, there's always some new information springing up about ways to live a healthy lifestyle. On top of it all, some of the new information seems to contradict the information you came across only days before!! High protein or low protein? Omega 6 is good or Omega 6 is bad? Tastes great or less filling? You get the idea. Anyway, I just stumbled upon this comical summation of how confusing eating healthy can sometimes be.

The Japanese eat very little fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than Britons or Americans.

The Mexicans eat a lot of fat and also suffer fewer heart attacks than Britons or Americans.

The Japanese drink very little red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than Britons or Americans.

The Italians drink a great deal of red wine and also suffer fewer heart attacks than Britons or Americans.

The Germans drink a lot of beer and eat sausage and other fatty foods and suffer fewer heart attacks than Britons and Americans.

THE MEDICAL CONCLUSION IS:

Eat and drink whatever you want. Speaking English is apparently what kills you.

Clearly, this is making light of it all. But, a good laugh once and a while never hurt anyone. Still, I think it's worth pointing out that eating and drinking whatever you want is not exactly the best approach to living a healthy lifestyle, either. As for the whole English speaking bit -- well, maybe it's time to pick-up a second language!!

Ciao.

Simple, easy-to-follow and just plain good, sound advice. That's what we're all looking for, isn't it? We don't have all day to read through medical journals, so we do our best to pick up tips here and there. In keeping with that approach, here are a few health tips of the day.

Try to consume more pomegranate juice. In addition to aiding in preventing hardening of the arteries, lowering bad cholesterol, pomegranate juice may also reduce the risk of prostate cancer. Try to find a 100% version of the juice, such s the very popular Pom -- which can be found in most supermarkets.

A research study conducted at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore points to the importance of laughter. Its healing power, if you will. Apparently, people who watched comedy films such as "There's Something About Mary" had better blood flow than those who watched dramas like "Saving Private Ryan."

Relaxed, control breathing can help lower your blood pressure. Try to take 10 breaths per minute rather than the average 16 to 19. By doing so, you can slow your body's excretion of salt, which, in turn, will help keep your blood pressure down.

Quick and to the point. The way we like it.

We all know 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week does the body good. Add these steps to your 30-minute routine, and Michael F. Roizen, MD, says you'll keep your brain young.

• Eat Indian. Each week, eat six curry dishes or six teaspoons of dark mustard, or a combination of the two, and you may lower your Alzheimer's risk.

• Teach. You're more likely to retain information if you explain it to someone else.

• Go Tomatoes. Take in 10 tablespoons of tomato sauce (with olive oil and no added sugar). Do this every week and your brain will thank you.

• Laugh. Laughter really is good medicine. It's good enough to improve memory, in fact.

• Drink Coffee. More help on the Alzheimer's front. No cream or sugar allowed.

• Go Fish. Make it fish with low toxins, three to four times per week, or take molecularly distilled fish oil each day.

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FitSpirit explores the mind-body connection and the intangible benefits we gain from our efforts to stay physically fit.

Surely, you've heard that laughter is the best medicine for the ills that ail us. Heck, I'm sure you've read about the topic here more than a few times. Well, it really is no joke. Laughter is good for your health. And it has a powerful feel-good influence on your overall spirit too.

Not only can laughter reduce stress, improve memory, and boost heart heath, it can reap another very important benefit: Joy.

Got a pal who makes you giggle? A favorite TV sitcom that sends you rolling on the floor? A comedian so funny you can't stop laughing? If so, seek them out. And let the lightheartedness begin.

It's hard to feel down when your cheeks are sore from chuckling. And it's hard to pass up such inexpensive and available medicine. So make it your mission to laugh today. And bask in the glory of the joy it brings.

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Life is too short not to be fully "tuned in." The Daily Turn On! is designed to wake up your senses, all six of them: smell, taste, touch, hearing, sight and intuition! Everyday The Daily Turn On! with That's Fit Life Fit expert Laura Lewis will awaken your mind, your body and your life!

Did you know ... We all know that laughter is contagious, but there is more to that saying than you may think. According to a study published by PubMed (June 2007), mothers who laughed prior to breastfeeding (even several hours before) produced higher levels of melatonin. Not only does melatonin assist in relaxation, but it also helps in lessening the symptoms of eczema and the allergic reactions to dust mites and latex. (dust mites are everywhere!)

Of course, laughing is just as healthy for mom as it is for baby. Dr. Lee Berk and Dr. Stanley Tan of Loma Linda University in California concluded from their many studies that laughter is truly the best medicine.

Research indicates that a good guffaw simulates the immune system and produces the following immediate results:

• An increase in the number and activity level of natural killer cells that attack viral infected cells and even some types of cancer and tumor cells.
• An increase in activated T cells
• An increase in the immunoglobulin A, the antibody that fights upper respiratory infections
• An increase in gamma interferon which assists in increased immune function

Wouldn't it be great if everyone "tuned in" to they golden key of laughter as the best medicine? Ah, what a happier and healthier world it would be.

Turn On your senses ... Live a Fit Life!

As the saying goes: he who laughs last, laughs hardest. What they don't tell you is that he's probably healthier too! It's no secret that laughing is darn good for your body. Surrounding yourself with happy people can cause a mirror effect in your own brain that improves social behavior. And having a good laugh can not only help you lose weight, but a new study has linked it with preventing heart disease as well! Now that's a chuckle worth having.

The University of Maryland did research that found a link between healthy people who laugh more and individuals with heart problems of the same age who don't laugh as much. It turns out the people with heart disease are 40 percent less likely to have a laugh than those other guys. After all, cardiovascular health depends on regular exercise daily, and 15 minutes of laughter is also recommended.

No one needs to be told how to laugh, but a little help never hurts. For instance, watch this video of a laughing baby and you just might get your daily dose in one sitting! We can sing the benefits of laughter all day long, but think about it: don't you just feel better after a good giggle?

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We could all use a bit more fun in our lives to break up the humdrum of every day life and make us appreciate the things we have, like our health and our family. So on your next day off, why not head to the park with your kids or your dog (or both)? Do what you did at the park when you were a kid: run around, take the slide, swing on the swings, dig in the mud and basically have fun. You'll relieve stress, burn calories, nurture relationships and get some much-needed fresh air that you don't have at the office. If, like me, you don't have kids or a dog, offer to babysit or dogsit for a friend. There's also a multitude of other fun to be had: you could fingerpaint, ride a merry-go round, go rollerskating -- the options are endless. The only rule is: have fun.

Have you ever heard that laughing is great exercise? Well here's a new fitness fad that takes that principle to heart: laughter yoga. Described as part traditional yoga, part improv, and part silliness, laughter yoga is quickly growing as a popular way to get fit. Originally invented in India, there are approximately 60 instructors in the United States now training practitioners nationwide. And although they are spread all across the country, the majority of laughter yoga clubs are in California.

Jeffrey Briar, who teaches both traditional and laughter yoga in Laguna Beach, CA, says that laughter enhances the breathing exercises that are so important to yoga and creates social interaction that isn't normally a part of his traditional classes. He even says that the laughter can be pretend at first -- because if you're fake laughing in a group it becomes real laughter very quickly.

There have been many studies on the effects of laughter on health, and links have been found to suggest laughter can ease depression, lower blood pressure, and boost the immune system. I'll have to check around and see if this laughter yoga is offered at all in my area, it sounds like fun!

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