Laughter is the best medicine. Now, we do know for sure the truth underlying this adage, for science has proved it beyond any further doubt. But can you lose weight by laughing?
When researchers monitored human physiology under the effects of laughter, it became apparent that it also exercised the body albeit in a mild but totally positive manner. Thus, leading to a healthy, quick, and easy weight loss.
Does Laughing Make You Lose Weight?
The effects of laughter are somewhat similar to that of exercise. Our physiology changes when we laugh. We stretch our facial and upper body muscles. Our pulse rate quickens and our blood pressure increases, causing an increased supply of oxygen to our tissues. This is very similar to the effects caused by a mild workout.
This mild workout gained through laughter is the principle on which laughter clubs are founded. Old people benefit from these clubs which combine low-impact stretching and waving of the arms with laughter to boost the heart rate. The medical effects in terms of weight loss are so positive that it would be good for all young and old people to incorporate a few minutes of this therapy into a workday.
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Science has recorded these positive benefits from laughter on human physiology:
- Laughter releases Endorphins or “feel good” hormones into the bloodstream.
- Laughter reduces stress. Endorphins are responsible for reducing stress levels.
As stress is one of the principal causes of excess weight, increased endorphin levels in the blood can help reduce excess weight or prevent you from packing on a few more kilos.
- Laughter can give you a mild workout.
- An increased metabolism manages weight more efficiently.
- Improvement in breathing causes the body tissues to be oxygenated more efficiently.
- Enhanced blood circulation regulates blood sugar.
- Most importantly, laughter acts as a powerful antioxidant that boosts the immune function of the body.
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All these benefits can be yours through laughter therapy, without having to spend a single penny. It would also make the world a better place to live in. However, a word of caution: don’t be too hasty to dump the treadmill yet, for the maximum weight that you could lose through laughter therapy would be about 2 kilos in a whole year.
Does laughing burn belly fat? As you laugh, the muscles in your belly expand and contract fully, which is exactly like exercising your abs. 10-15 minutes of laughter therapy in a day can cause you to burn 50 calories, which is approximately the same calorie count contained in a piece of candy. So use this therapy in combination with other forms of exercise; it will make the exercising more fun and you will feel better about yourself and a healthy weight loss which is the ultimate purpose of all such activity anyway.
After this post, hopefully, your question of “can you lose weight by laughing?”, has been answered.
