I'm thankful for a lot of things, so it was really hard to narrow it down to just one. This week was full of ups and downs. One thing that helps us is the ability to laugh. There's just something about laughter that helps sooth our souls. Whether you're watching a Mel Brooks Film (Spaceballs is still my favorite) or reading the Sunday comics, those giggles just work their magic. This got my curiosity piqued, so I decided to do a little research. Why exactly is laughter the best medicine? I mean really? Are there really health benefits to laughter?
And the answer is YES! There are tons of physical, as well as mental, benefits to laughter. Some of the physical include cardiovascular, blood sugar, pain relief and even immunity. It improves your mood and can help relieve stress and anxiety. The main reason is that laughter helps release endorphins, neurotransmitters that when released act as an analgesic which can help lower pain and increase someone's feeling of well being. Endorphins occure naturally in the body and are usually stimulated by physical exercise, excitement, being in love, and even eating spicy food. Did I mention they're non-addictive, yet some have been proven to be up to 500 times more powerful than any man-made opiate. Wow.
So the next time someone asks you why you're laughing, just tell them you're laughing at your health. Heck, laughter is free and Xanax requires a prescription.
PS: I am not a doctor, merely reporting information I've discovered in my quest to defend laughter.
To help spread the laughter, health and love, I'll give away one shiny new copy of Demons Like it Hot (My December release), along with Demons Prefer Blondes. Please leave your email in the comments so you can claim your prize.
Also, Demons Like It Hot is up for Book of the Week at Long and Short Reviews. Voting ends today, so feel free to cast your vote!
Cheers!
Sid
And the answer is YES! There are tons of physical, as well as mental, benefits to laughter. Some of the physical include cardiovascular, blood sugar, pain relief and even immunity. It improves your mood and can help relieve stress and anxiety. The main reason is that laughter helps release endorphins, neurotransmitters that when released act as an analgesic which can help lower pain and increase someone's feeling of well being. Endorphins occure naturally in the body and are usually stimulated by physical exercise, excitement, being in love, and even eating spicy food. Did I mention they're non-addictive, yet some have been proven to be up to 500 times more powerful than any man-made opiate. Wow.
So the next time someone asks you why you're laughing, just tell them you're laughing at your health. Heck, laughter is free and Xanax requires a prescription.
PS: I am not a doctor, merely reporting information I've discovered in my quest to defend laughter.
Also, Demons Like It Hot is up for Book of the Week at Long and Short Reviews. Voting ends today, so feel free to cast your vote!
Cheers!
Sid
Sidney, thanks for the great reminder!
ReplyDeleteGood, then when I was laughing so hard over playing LA Noire with my daughter and SIL that I was crying, that was good for me. :) I was driving one of the 1940's cars and though I was a detective trying to solve arson crimes, I was committing tons more on the road. Let's see, one traffic signal plowed over, same with a lamp pole, not sure how many cars I hit, lots of angry drivers yelling at me, but though a lot of people ran out of my path and I didn't hit any of them, I think I managed about $3,000 in city damages, and that was in the 1940's pay scale.
ReplyDeleteSo laughter truly is the best medicine!
One of the best reasons for getting together with friends is that when we gather in person, we laugh a lot more than when we're virtually connecting over the phone, text, email, etc. And one thing I do enjoy about FB is when the feed seems bent on presenting one silly image after another. Great post, Sid, especially with the holidays upon us,
ReplyDeleteSo true, Sydney! No matter how bad things get, if you can find something to laugh about, you've already won half the battle.
ReplyDeleteI voted for the hot demons!
Great post! I knew there were some benefits to laughter but didn't know there were that many. Thanks for sharing this!
ReplyDeleteAlso, I really like your book covers! Love how they match and how hot they are!
chibipooh(at)gmail(dot)com
Laughter is the best medicine :)
ReplyDeleteHave to say how gorgeous your covers are!
For all of life's ups and downs, laughter can definitely make it better. Wishing you a wonderful week.
ReplyDeleteCambonified(at)yahoo(dot)com
Laughter is great medicine when life throws a few curve balls at you. The covers of your books are gorgeous. Thanks for the giveaway.
ReplyDeletejcalvert719(at)yahoo(dot)com
Space balls is great movie, Rick Moranis as Dark Helmet still makes me laugh.
So true, Sidney. And now we have scientific proof!
ReplyDeleteVoted Sid! Best of luck to you. And you are so right about laughter. With all of life's ups and downs, I've found laughing makes things more "bearable". What's that old saying about laughing to keep from crying?
ReplyDelete;-)
maeve (at) maeve (no space) greyson (dot) com
There is nothing better then a good laugh-- countless times a day :-)
ReplyDeletejustforswag(AT)yahoo(DOT)com
Absolutely agree! Laughter heals wounds, brings people together, and spreads joy. Here's wishing you much laughter this season!
ReplyDeleteI love humor in stories and try to put a bit of it in my stories. It especially helps if you've had a scene with saddness or a difficult task.
ReplyDeleteI don't know why this particular thing popped into my head, but when I was small I had a coloring book with Screamy Mimi as the main character. She would scream so loud buildings would fall down. For some reason I laughed through the whole book and even thinking about it still makes me smile. My question is, why would I do that? Maybe because it was so ridiculous and it worked. Anyway, it was fun to laugh and still is a nice way to get through the day.
Good luck with lots of sales. You have fantastic covers!
wonderful post and a welcome reminder. As we slide into the christmas season, it's easy to forget to laugh at myself and my family and the other shoppers/drivers/workers.
ReplyDeleteChristmas is the season of joy, not all that other stuff and I intend to enjoy every moment of it - including laughing at myself.
Great Post! I love the book covers!
ReplyDeleteLaughter is always wonderful. Nothing feels better than a good laugh. Thanks for the great giveaway.
ReplyDeleteCrystal816[at]hotmail[dot]com
Great post.Laughter is good for mind,body and soul :)
ReplyDeleteMy little nephew was here this weekend and I never laughed so hard.The things he does just makes me laugh.
Thanks for the giveaway.
elaing8(at)netscape(dot)net
As a child, I often heard that laughter was the best medicine and I never queried it. It just seemed to make such sense to me.
ReplyDeletelittle lamb lst at yahoo dot com
Too true, Sid. Laughing makes us feel so much better. Thanks for bringing more laughter into our lives.
ReplyDelete"Wow!"
ReplyDeleteAmelia
Great post! Laughter really is some of the best and the cheapest medicine out there:) I know it might be a weird thing to say, but I love my laugh lines... they just show how healthy and happy my life has been:)
ReplyDeleteyadkny@hotmail.com