Laughter is the Best Medicine

Humor is infectious. The sound of roaring laughter is far more contagious than any cough, sniffle, or sneeze. When laughter is shared, it binds people together and increases happiness and intimacy. Laughter also triggers healthy physical changes in the body. Humor and laughter strengthen your immune system, boost your energy, diminish pain, and protect you from the damaging effects of stress. Best of all, this priceless medicine is fun, free, and easy to use.

The following are the Benefits of Laughter:

Physical Health Benefits:

•        Boosts immunity

•        Lowers stress hormones

•        Decreases pain

•        Relaxes your muscles

•        Prevents heart disease

Mental Health Benefits:

•        Adds joy and zest to life

•        Eases anxiety and fear

•        Relieves stress

•        Improves mood

•        Enhances resilience

Social Benefits:

•        Strengthens relationships

•        Attracts others to us

•        Enhances teamwork

•        Helps defuse conflict

•        Promotes group bonding

Laughter and humor help you stay emotionally healthy. It makes you feel good. And the good feeling that you get when you laugh remains with you even after the laughter subsides. Humor helps you keep a positive, optimistic outlook through difficult situations, disappointments, and loss.

More than just a respite from sadness and pain, it gives you the courage and strength to find new sources of meaning and hope. Even in the most difficult of times, a laugh–or even simply a smile–can go a long way toward making you feel better. And laughter really is contagious—just hearing laughter primes your brain and readies you to smile and join in the fun.

“Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint.”

― Mark Twain