Laughter is the Best Medicine:

It is fun to share a good laugh, but did you know laughter can actually improve your health? Did you know that kids laugh about 300 times a day compared to adults who only laugh about 17 times a day? That is a big difference!  One of my favourite sounds was getting that first big belly laugh out of my babies!  It is hard not to smile and laugh when you hear that!  Research out of Harvard University has shown some great benefits to laughing: 1. Reduces stress (decreases the stress hormones) and relaxes the whole body. A good laugh relieves physical tension and stress, leaving your body relaxed for up to 45 minutes,  2. Boots T-Cells (immune system cells), 3. Triggers the release of endorphins-the body’s natural feel good chemicals that can also help decrease pain. 4. Improves cardiac health, 5. Works your abdominal muscles and burns calories. One study found that laughing for 10-15 minutes/day can burn approximately 40 calories, and 6. Produces a general sense of well being. So after a busy and stressful holiday season, put on a comedy, be goofy, share a laugh with friends or family and give yourself a dose of the “best medicine”.