Can you remember the last time you laughed so hard it actually hurt? If you're like me, your nostrils flared out past your smile lines and your nose shriveled up like a prune as you leaned back and clapped your hands together resembling a baby seal. You may have even snorted a little and prayed no one else heard. Yea, those exhausting and exhilarating moments may not be your prettiest, but those moments of breathlessness may actually bring you back to life.
Turns out, laugher may not just be a product of your classmate calling out your ridiculous professor or the hysterical gifs below, it can have real, live HEALTH benefits! Yea, just taking the time to laugh everyday could save you from feeling guilty for skipping the gym.
According to Dr. Lee Berk and Dr. Stanley Tan’s study at the Loma Linda University in California, getting out a guiltless giggle can affect many parts of the body. When you let out a one of those deep, practically painful belly laughs, you are also releasing endorphins in your brain that make your whole body feel good. Meanwhile, your stress hormones plummet and your body starts pumping out more antibodies to fight off the next cold that comes your way. That’s not to mention the throbbing sensation overwhelming your abdominal muscles as they expand and contract as you grasp for air. Ever wondered if that sensation was the reason your abs have been rock-hard lately? Truth is, those belly laughs are activating your six-pack and you helping you achieve your beach-body goals (along with your gym routine of course!). With all those muscles working, it is no surprise that laughter also gets your blood flowing and protects you from heart disease. Even after the glorious laugh comes to end, you are still reaping benefits as you recline back into your chair. As your muscles relax and release some physical tension, your body can stay relaxed for up to 45 minutes. If that rundown was a little quick, peep the the pic of Beyonce below to get a quick recap!
With Christmas just weeks away, it is customary to find stressed moms running rampant around the mall and broke college kids worrying about what to buy their loved ones for under five dollars. We all want to give to those that who are important to us and we should! When it comes to the holidays, making someone smile with a simple facebook video shared to their wall may just be the thing they need when they are juggling finals, family and what to bring the holiday potluck dinner that starts in an hour.
So here are six easy ways to make people laugh this holiday season:
- Tag them in videos with cute puppies/cats/babies whatever they prefer!
- Send them a hideous snapchat!
3. Be Punny!
4. Break out the one-liners!
5. Laugh at yourself!
6. Just laugh! It’s contagious!
