Laughter Is The Best Medicine: 6 Health Benefits Of Laughter

Humor may make it easier to get through the day as well as generally help you enjoy your life, but... laughter is no joke. A series of studies shows that the old saying may actually be true, and that laughter is really a great medicine! What other medicine can possibly serve as a workout, possibly save you from a heart attack, help you connect to your loved-ones and even boost your immune system? Laughter can do all this and make you a generally happier person!

That's right — laughing is so much more than just something your body automatically does when something is funny. People who laugh regularly and heartily will experience so many benefits, to both their mental and physical health. You may be having a stressful and busy life, so why not put some time aside to have a good laugh with friends and family? It can do you a surprising amount of good.

What else should you know about how laughter can improve your life for the better?

Laughter Brings People Together

Of all the various benefits of laughter, perhaps one of the most important thing laughing has going for it is that it brings people together. After all, humans are very social animals and feeling isolated is one of the most important causes of depression. It isn't just actual solitude that can lead a person to feel like their isolated and alone — the worst type of isolation comes in the form of feeling disconnected within a relationship you have, from your children, at work, or from your close friends.

Of course, laughter can't fix everything. In some cases, it will take a whole lot more than a simple great joke to reconnect with your friends and family. Yet, we all recognize the power of bonding over laughter and a good joke. Humor connects people. It can break the ice when you meet someone for the first time, can kill arguments or fights, and can help you remember just how much you have in common with a loved one. Sometimes, just seeing that smile on the other person's face makes things feel so much better. Laughter really does bring people together, whether it's through watching a comedy together or sharing some silly jokes and experiences.

Laughter As Exercise

What happens when you laugh? A real, body-consuming laughing session uses lots of muscles, and not just in your face. Have you ever paid attention to the workout your abs get when you're “killing yourself laughing”? Laughter increases your heart rate, makes you breathe faster, and increases your oxygen intake. In other words, laughing is just like a good workout!

It is well established that exercising makes people feel better, but most folks probably workout to get fit or stay fit.

Ten to 15 minutes of laughing will get rid of about 50 calories. OK, so laughter will not replace your current workout regime. But, perhaps the knowledge that laughing gives you mini-workout at the very least will provide you with a good excuse when you sit down in front of the TV to watch a comedy, or a show like Candid Camera.