The Physical and Psychological Benefits of Laughter

Laughing out loud improves our physical and emotional health. Why?

Several studies and researches have tried to find out the influence that laughter has on our mental and physical health.. In fact, we are all aware that laughing is healthy and that it works certain muscles that we rarely use in our daily lives. In addition, laughter also generates certain hormones in our body that provide us with happiness and good humor.

Laughing is a historically recognized medicine

Laughter's ability to improve our mood is not something we humans have only recently discovered. The benefits of laughter have been known for centuries, as evidenced by the writings of Plato and Socrates, who already conceived of laughter as a medicine. already conceived of human laughter as a source of pleasure..

Sigmund Freud himself, more recently, stated that laughter is an essential key to release tensions and negative energies.. In many cultures, laughter has been an important element to achieve body-spirit harmony, as for example in Hindu philosophy.

From psychology, laughter has also been contemplated as a resource to promote psychological well-being and health of individuals. Its best known form is Laughter therapya therapy based on good humor and the positive effects on our mind of the healthy habit of laughing.

What exactly are the benefits of laughter?

Laughing is important in our lives. It is a healthy way to keep our body and mind in good shape.

Physical benefits of laughter

• Activates muscles we don't normally use. When we laugh out loud our body is activated and more than 400 muscles move. This muscular contraction and relaxation is what makes laughter itself possible. Laughter provokes a level of physical activity similar to running. running Have you noticed that when you laugh for a long time your abs get sore?

• It strengthens our immune system. Laughter causes our body to generate more immunoglobulin A and T-lymphocytes, antibodies that are responsible for fighting viruses and bacteria. This makes our defenses stronger and, therefore, our health more resistant.

• Burns body fat. When we laugh, our abdomen and diaphragm contract, facilitating the digestive process, eliminating fat and toxins from our body, and improving intestinal regulation.

• Our body receives more oxygen. Between guffaws, we receive more than twice as much oxygen as we breathe at rest. The effort our muscles make requires higher levels of oxygen in our blood. If you know someone who has fits of laughter, you will have noticed that there may come a time when they feel a little choked. This may be because their muscles are exercising too much, or they have inhaled too much oxygen, producing the same choking symptom.

Psychological benefits of laughter

• We release endorphins. When we laugh, we secrete a hormone called endorphinwhich is closely associated with the feeling of happiness. The greater the intensity of laughter, the more endorphin secretion our nervous system generates, and thus the greater the sensation of pleasure and well-being we feel. In addition, laughter also causes us to secrete dopamine y serotoninsubstances that combat some mood disorders such as depression or anxiety.

• A powerful anti-stress. In addition to the hormones and their beneficial effect on our mood, laughter also has the ability to activate many muscles that, once we have stopped laughing, relax again. This increases a state of physical and psychological relaxation. A good way to combat negative thoughts and emotional ballast.

• It improves the functioning of our brain.o. Another hormone (neurotransmitter) that we secrete when we laugh is catecholamine. catecholaminewhich is involved in the proper functioning of our brain. This neurotransmitter also has the ability to improve our memory, academic performance and mental agility.

• It makes us more sociable. When we share good times with friends or colleagues and laugh in this social context, we are sharing unique and positive experiences, which improves our socialization. Communal laughter can improve our interpersonal relationships.

• Increases self-esteem. Laughter allows us to put aside our sense of the ridiculous and take life with good humor and with more relaxation, which can lead to an improvement in our self-esteem.

• Promotes our optimism. Laughter gives us a positive mood. When we are in a good mood, we usually generate more positive thoughts. Laughter can help us to relativize the difficulties and begin to create a good state of mind that leads us to optimism.

Several conclusions about laughter

It is clear that laughter is one of the best natural therapies in existence.. For all these reasons, philosophy and science are increasing year after year our knowledge about good humor and its ability to positively influence our health and our mood.

So, let's leave aside for a few moments the worries of everyday life and learn to enjoy everything that is capable of making us laugh.