Laughter Helps You Burn Calories, Work-Out Abs, Fight Depression, Increase Heart Rate & Is Fun
Posted: Sunday, September 12, 2010
by Fran Larson
http://www.franniesquotes.com/
A few nights ago, Jim and I were watching Date Night with Tina Fey and Steve Carrell. Suddenly, I had a laughing attach and have never laughed so hard in my whole life. My stomach was hurting so bad, I tried not to laugh. The more I laughed, the more I wanted to laugh. Of course what is funny to me may not be funny to you. In this part of the movie, Tina was doing a very unsexy pole dance. I think you had to be there because it doesn't sound that funny.
Here is what Tina had to say about that scene: " We decided not to plan it or hire a choreographer, it was better for us to do it spontaneously. And anyway, Steve would have gotten aroused and it would have been embarrassing in the theaters!"
I wondered why my stomach hurt so badly (even though it was certainly worthwhile)? My research showed that when I was laughing, it was not my stomach but my diaphragm that hurt. The diaphragm is located just under the stomach. The pain was caused because laughter interferes with the breathing rhythm. That "laughter fit" made me feel good for a long time. Then, I began to wonder what else would laughter do for you?
Here are some things I found out:
What Laughter Does
1. When you laugh a lot you are contracting and relaxing your muscles in your stomach, kind of like doing a lot of curl ups (wikianswers)
2. 15 minutes of laughter a day will burn 10 to 40 calories, depending on a person's weight and the intensity of the laughter. ( Source: http://www.chacha.com/.)
3. Laughter increases natural endorphins, the body's natural way to help pain and protect against depression.
4. It increases the heart rate, improves blood circulation.
5. Works muscles all over the body ( Source for 3-5 by Dr. William Fry, Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology Stanford University)
6. Laughing can also bolster the immune system, aiding the body to fight off infections like coughs and colds.
7. The act of laughing can even help the skin, by using up to 15 facial muscles, helping to give the face a work out.
8. When you laugh, you generate a wealth of healing biochemicals.
Why Laugh?
Dr. William Fry, associate professor of clinical psychiatry at Stanford University, has studied the effects of laughter for 30 years. Fry compares laughter to "inner jogging," and claims laughing 100 times a day is the equivalent of 10 minutes of rowing (Fry, 1977, 1979; Fry & Salameh.)
"Laughter is one of the best medicines around for relieving stress and for creating a more healthy spirit. And, one of the greatest aspects is that it is totally free and can be done by anyone." Byron Pulsifer
"Laughter gives us distance. It allows us to step back from an event, deal with it and then move on." Bob Newhart
Do you need to be uplifted and revived? Read my latest article on "America's Got Talent" by clicking here: /swa627276-Jackie-Evancho-And-Sarah-Brightman-Sing-Time-To-Say-Goodbye-On-Americas-Got.htm
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More commentsI always feel revived after I've really been amused by something and had a good laugh. I didn't know a lot of the points you've made, Fran, they're really interesting. Imagine a fitness program where instead of painfully jogging every day you happily laughed!
I'm not much on laughing Fran, I may come out with short bursts of laughter but to laugh hardily I'm not good at, just my nature.
Hah! There, I feel better already!Best......e
Very good advice, we all need to laugh a little bit more in life :)
What a fun article! I love to laugh, now I have all those great reasons to indulge myself. ThanksBob
I'm going to have to pull out all my comedy type movies and get busy. Thanks for a really great informative article Fran. Must be true about what they say, laughter is the best medicine.
Laughter is the best medicine. Interesting article Fran. I saw the movie and the pole dance scene was pretty funny. There's nothing like a good gut laugh. :)
Wow! Lovely & very helpful article...And you're very right...The Bible say, "A cheerful heart is good medicine..." Proverbs 17:22aThanks for sharing a great article...God bless you FRAN...Regards, CP
FranHere is another one for you .... A deep belly laugh exercises your emotional muscles. It is believed that a person needs to have either a deep belly laugh or a really good cry every week in order to have strong and balanced emotional health. I have often referred to Jim Carey in The Grinch that stole Christmas as an illustration. At the end of the movie when the Grinch (Jim Carey) has his heart growing and flings himself helplessly against a rock and believes he is dying from his heart growing - that is how it feels when we have emotional muscles that are not exercised.Personally, my husband wishes I would exercise my own emotional muscles by crying more as I sound like Arnold Horseshack hyper ventilating when I laugh. Grins.wonderful article. mwah
I knew laughter was the best medicine, but didn't knew it was such a great workout too. Thanks for the information.
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