Can laughter really be medicinal for people?
Well, after researching about the health benefits of laughter for people, I have concluded that laughter truly is a remarkable aspect in our lives that should be looked into more. Some of the health benefits from studies that have been practiced are:
- Laughter boosts the immune system by lowering stress level through the release of natural endorphins within the body. Endorphins ultimately aid you in relaxing your body and have the ability to nullify pain (if any).
- One hour of watching a comedy act on the television can lower your blood sugar levels.
- Laughter can prevent heart disease as well as increase the blood flow in your body. A study that was conducted by Maciej Buchowski (a researcher from Vanderbilt University) stated that, “fifteen minutes of non-stop laughter is equivalent to burning fifty calories.”
There is also a form of yoga called Laughter Yoga which is the “combination of unconditional laughter with Yogic breathing (Pranayama),” as defined by Laughter Yoga International. A funny success story that paints the picture of how Laughter Yoga contributed to her life was by a woman named Sue Carter Ansari. Sue is a survivor of cancer and she made the testing processes of mammograms, ultrasounds, biopsies, and Chemo literally painless just from laughing out loud hysterically. Sue would laugh before, during, and after the tests were done and she claimed to have “never felt a thing!” Sue’s incredible story can be found on this link: Sue Carter Ansari's Success Story
Laughter is not only a powerful tool to battle diseases but it is also an improved way of enjoying life. So, for the next time you are feeling down or an ache in your body, let out a good laugh; you will never know the incredulous feeling you might get unless you try!
