Laughter and Immunity
Two of my kids are sneezing up a storm and I’m desperately trying to avoid their germs. My approach is twofold. I’m upping my intake of juice – and I pulled out my stash of humor books.
It’s no secret that laughter is good medicine, but just how good may be rather eye opening. Research shows that laughter not only relieves stress – but a good belly laugh boosts the immune system, lowers blood pressure, releases natural pain killers and increases muscle flexibility. One study even says laughing 100 times provides as much aerobic benefit as 15 minutes on an exercise bike.
Here are some ways to tickle the old funny bone…
– Buy a book of jokes or book of humorous stories. A few of my favorite authors are Dave Barry, Dave Muerer, Martha Bolton and Chondra Pierce.
– Subscribe to an internet site that provides a joke a day such as http://www.cleanjokes.net/. Just enter your email address to start receiving more belly laughs than you can shake a stick at (assuming shaking sticks is your thing).
– Share a joke or funny experience at the dinner table – or forward a funny to a friend or family member’s email box.
– Read the comics and tape a strip family members might enjoy to the bathroom mirror to give them a laugh first thing in the morning.
One of my favorite proverbs says, “A cheerful disposition is good for your health; and gloom and doom leaves you bone-tired.”
So laugh out loud! And remember, it’s aerobic!
