A Comedy Club May Be Better Than A Pharmacy: The Mental & Physical Health Benefits Of Laughter

I suppose I'm allowed to copy and paste stuff written on my own blog. I enjoyed writing this...



It's been said that laughter is the best medicine. I'm not comfortable making that claim, but there's no disputing the health benefits of a good belly laugh.

The Scriptures teach us that "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine" (Proverbs 17:22). That's one verse that's in agreement with modern science.

There is a general consensus in the scientific community about the health benefits of laughter. If you're interested in self-help, then start by subjecting yourself to some high quality humor.

"Your sense of humor is one of the most powerful tools you have to make certain that your daily mood and emotional state support good health." ~ Paul E. McGhee, Ph.D.



It's Like a Workout

Some experts claim that laughter is like a workout. However, it's not quite as challenging.

William Fry is an expert in laughter research. He claims that he had to spend ten minutes on a rowing machine for his heart rate to reach the level it did after just one minute of laughter.

Steven Wilson is a psychologist and laugh therapist. He compares laughter to a workout.

"The effects of laughter and exercise are very similar," says Wilson.

"Combining laughter and movement, like waving your arms, is a great way to boost your heart rate."

Another researcher, Maciej Buchowski, actually conducted a study to determine how many calories people burn while laughing. Conclusion: 10-15 minutes of laughter can burn 50 calories.

That's no reason to ditch your workout routine, but it's a great addendum to any fitness program.





It Matters What You Watch

Here's why you should throw out your Blu-Ray copy of Schindler's List and pick up A Fish Called Wanda.

Researchers at the University of Maryland conducted an experiment on two groups of people. One group watched a comedy show and the other group watched a drama. After the screening, the blood vessels of the people who watched the comedy behaved normally. However, the blood vessels of people who watched the drama tended to tense and restrict blood flow.




Laughter Boosts Immunity

Laughter alleviates stress. That's good for many reasons, not the least of which is that stress is associated with a decreased immune system response.

Studies indicate that laughter may raise the level of antibodies in your system. Further, a hearty laugh can boost the levels of immune cells also.




Laughter May Be Sweet, But It Lowers Your Blood Sugar Level

Researches conducted a study with 19 diabetics to determine the effects of laughter on blood sugar levels. After a meal, the group attended a thoroughly boring lecture (probably on search engine optimization). On the next day, the group ate the same meal and then watched a comedy. After viewing the comedy, members of the group had lower blood sugar levels than after watching the lecture.




Laughter Provides Pain Relief

Even common sense informs us that people who laugh tend to be more at ease than those who don't. You've probably noticed this in your own life.

The pioneer of laughter research, Norman Cousin, was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis (don't bother trying to pronounce it, just keep reading). That painful spine condition made it difficult for him to sleep. His solution: He watched Marx Brothers films and Candid Camera (both well-known sources of comedy in his time). Cousins said that just ten minutes of laughter enabled him to have two hours of pain-free sleep.

Laughter releases endorphins, which are hormones secreted by the brain and nervous system. These in turn activate your body's opiate receptors. In a nutshell: Laughter is a painkiller.




Laughter Boosts Your Brain Power

I have already noted that you can improve your memory by having sex regularly. That article might have also made you laugh, which means that you could have received a double memory boost after reading it.

Research from Loma Linda University suggests that laughter improves your memory. The study involved two groups of older adults. One group watched a funny video for 20 minutes. The other group just sat in place with no video. Afterwards, researchers conducted memory tests on each group and took saliva samples to check for stress hormones.

Unsurprisingly, the people who watched the funny video performed better on short-term memory tests. The stress hormone cortisol was significantly lower in the that group as well.

"Learning ability and delayed recall become more challenging as we age," said study author Dr. Gurinder S. Bains. "Laughing with friends or even watching 20 minutes of humor on TV, as I do daily, helps me cope with my daily stressors."

So how does humor improve your memory? It reduces stress hormones, lowers your blood pressure, and increases your overall mood. The act of laughter sends dopamine to your brain and provides a sense of pleasure. That, in turn, changes brain wave activity towards something known as a "gamma frequency" and leads to improved recall.




Obviously, Laughter Is a Mood-Lifter

You've certainly been emotionally down at one point or another in your life. That mild depression can prevent you from performing at your best at work. It can also hurt your relationships.

Put on a good Monty Python comedy and let the inevitable laughs that flow lift your spirit out of the dumps. Laughter is an absolute antidote to sadness. Treat it as such.

The takeaway from this: Incorporate laughter into your daily routine as much as possible. You'll be better for it.