~Laughter!~

Laughter Really Is the Best Medicine

We’ve all heard the old adage, "Laughter is the best medicine." Turns out, it’s actually true. While laughing can’t replace the wonders of modern medicine or the impeccable care of your family physician, it does have a number of biophysical side effects that make it an important part of a healthy lifestyle:

Laughing helps you fend off disease. When you laugh, the motion pushes lymph fluid around your body, which strengthens your immune system. You also take in greater amounts of oxygen, which is deadly to many bacteria and even to some cancer cells. So next time you feel a sniffle coming on, forget the Echinacea – have a friend tell you a joke or watch a funny movie instead. Laughter can also assist with pain relief. It helps to release endorphins, which are the body’s natural pain killers. And if the pain is more emotional in nature? The prescription is still laughter. It also releases serotonin, a neurotransmitter (brain chemical) linked to feelings of happiness. Feeling stressed? Laughter can take care of that, too. A good belly laugh actually works to relax other muscles of the body as the diaphragm and belly muscles contract. Then, once you’re done laughing, the diaphragm and belly muscles also relax. On top of that, laughing decreases the level of stress hormones in your body. Laughter is good for the heart. A good bout of laughter is like a mini aerobic workout - it burns calories and improves circulation. Not to mention that a good sense of humor can insulate you from anger and distress, both of which can raise blood pressure and eventually lead to a heart attack.

Laugh and the World Laughs with You

Laughter isn’t only healthy for you, it also has important social benefits:

Laughter is contagious. When you laugh heartily, others will laugh too, and laughing together makes people feel more connected. Plus, people who are laughing together actually talk more, touch more and make more eye contact, which proves laughter really is "the shortest distance between two people." Laughter diffuses strong emotion. It is hard to feel angry, distressed or sad when you laugh. If you can find the humor in a situation, you are less likely to blow up and lash out at those around you. And nothing eases the tension of an awkward situation like a well-placed joke. (Just keepit tasteful, or you may find yourself in an even more awkward situation!) Laughter increases energy. The more energy you have, the more you will participate in activities that you otherwise might have avoided because you were "too tired." This is a great way to meet new people or bond more with those you already know.

from  

http://www.humorlistings.com/results.aspx?query=Humor&sessionid=cco21r45qwlnld55cq1cza45&cc=us&ns=1&eas=UErZa4iQUjY2TEqQDR6SpQ..

Tags: Laugh!