I just finished a very interesting book by Dr. Caroline Leaf, The Gift in You. The book deals with how our brains operate, how “toxic” thoughts create a chain reaction with emotional and physical responses that make rob our health and happiness. Maybe I can write more about the book another time, but right now, I am eager to share her great insights on the health benefits of laughter.
It releases an instant flood of feel-good chemicals that boost the immune system. Amost instantly, it reduces levels of stress hormones. A really good belly laugh can make cortisol drop by 39%, adrenalin by 70% and the “feel good hormone,” endorphin, increase by 29%. It can even make growth hormones skyrocket by 87%! Other research shows how laughter boosts your immune system by increasing levels of immunity and disease-fighting cells…
In fact, according to research, laughing 100 to 200 times a day is equal to 10 minutes of rowing or jogging!…
Laughter quite literally dissolves distressing toxic emotions because you can’t feel mad or sad when you laugh. When you laugh and have fun, endorphins are released which make you feel so great and at peace, those toxic thoughts can’t get out of your brain fast enough. Fun protects your heart because when you laugh and enjoy yourself, your body releases chemicals that improve the function of blood vessels and increase blood flow, protective against heart attack. Fun reduces damaging stress chemicals quickly, which, if they hang around in your body for too long, will make you mentally and physically sick. Fun and laughter also increase your energy levels.
Scientific proof that “A cheerful heart is good medicine” Proverbs 17:22
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