Why is laughter a great way to age beautifully?

Recent research has (once again) shown that laughter helps with stress. Stress has an accelerating effect on the aging process and is bad for overall health. A sense of humor helps us deal with everyday stress situations. We all know that taking a not-too-serious look at daily life helps us maintain our emotional balance. But laughter is an even more powerful medicine for stress.

• When we laugh or even smile alone, it makes us feel positive. This feeling has a direct strengthening effect on our immune system. Laughter prevents build-up and stops the release of harmful stress hormones. Laughter suppresses the production of cortisol, a hormone that is released during moments of stress. Research has also found that laughing increases the number of T lymphocytes (white blood cells that help fight disease and infection) in the bloodstream. It is not without reason that laughter therapy is used in hospitals to promote the healing process.

• Boosting the immune system isn't the only proven health benefit of laughing. While we laugh, we also give our heart a mini workout. Laughter causes the tension and relaxation of various muscle masses and accelerates blood flow in the body. This causes the “weak” feeling we experience after a real fit of laughter. Laughter also releases endorphins into the bloodstream. Endorphins are a pain reliever produced by the body, allowing us to experience an overall sense of well-being.

It is therefore very important to keep seeing the “bright side of life” even in stressful situations. The more we laugh, the better. Does avoiding and reducing stress through laughter allow us to age beautifully and in a fun way?