Laughter is Good Exercise for Promoting Health


Washington, Apr 28 (IANS): Laughter is as good as exercise in promoting health and a sense of well-being, a new study says.

Lee S. Berk, preventive care specialist and researcher at Loma Linda University's Schools of Allied Health (SAHP) and Medicine, and Stanley Tan have come up with the study.

They have been studying the human body's response to mirthful laughter and have found that laughter helps optimise many of the functions of various body systems.

Berk and his colleagues were the first to establish that laughter helps optimise the hormones in the endocrine system, including decreasing the levels of cortisol and epinephrine which lead to stress reduction.

They have also shown that laughter has a positive effect on modulating components of the immune system, including increased production of antibodies and activation of the body's protective cells, including T-cells and especially Natural Killer cells' killing activity of tumour cells.

Their studies have shown that repetitious "mirthful laughter," which they call Laughercise©, causes the body to respond in a way similar to moderate physical exercise, says a Loma Linda release.

Laughercise© enhances your mood, decreases stress hormones, enhances immune activity, lowers bad cholesterol and systolic blood pressure, and raises good cholesterol (HDL).

As Berk explains: "We are finally starting to realise that our everyday behaviours and emotions are modulating our bodies in many ways." His latest research expands the role of laughter even further.

Berk along with Jerry Petrofsky at Loma Linda University presented their findings at the Experimental Biology conference in Anaheim, CA.

 

 

  

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Comment on this article

  • Kateel Ramesh Prabhu, Mangalore/Bengalur

    Wed, Apr 28 2010

    Laughter therepy is already there in our ancient Yogic exercises.Anything that is emanating from Western country in the name of so called 'latest study' seems to be given undue importance by vested interests.Laughter besides helping human being in so many ways increases 'face value' at no cost.

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • A. S. Mathew, U.S.A.

    Wed, Apr 28 2010

    The external expression of a merry heart is laughter. " A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance:but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken" Proverbs 15:13. (Bible)

    We can personally feel a total relaxation after having a great time of laughter with the right kind of people. Personally speaking, I used to laugh a lot and made other people laugh, but certain personal pains of life took my laughter away, and I had to suffer a lot of physical problems in life, espcailly skin problems.

    Reduce the material burdens of life and enjoy relaxing laughter with the family and friends, because we have only one chance to live on this good earth.

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  • ISMAIL K PERINJE, PERINJE/YANBU-KSA

    Wed, Apr 28 2010

    "LAUGHTER IS BEST MEDICINE"BUT DON'T LAUGH ON ANOTHERMAN'S EXPENSE.WHEN YOU SMILE,YOU WILL GET SMILE IMMEDIATLY BACK.SMILE AND LAUGHTER HAVE NOT TO PAY ANYTHING.THOSE WHO ARE SMILES/LAUGHS HAVE SEVEN YEARS OF MORE LIFE THAN OTHERS AS SAID BY STUDY.SO LAUGH&LAUGH AND ENJOY THE LIFE.

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  • Lancelot N Tauro, Mangalore - Indians

    Wed, Apr 28 2010

    Its true. Lets laugh loudly - ha ha haaaaa.....

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse


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