| Once there were these two Nuns and | | | | increase in gamma interferon, which tells |
| they...just kidding! Do you feel any thinner | | | | various components of the immune system to |
| or healthier? Well, according to recent | | | | "turn on."An increase in IgB, the |
| studies, you might not in the beginning but | | | | immunoglobulin produced in the greatest |
| over the long haul, you could actually drop | | | | quantity in body, as well as an increase in |
| weight.Now, if you are laughing because you | | | | Complement 3, which helps antibodies to |
| are binging on some kind of pastry or you | | | | pierce dysfunctional or infected cells. The |
| getting trashed on alcohol, this might not | | | | increase in both substances was not only |
| work for you but if you are laughing for | | | | present while subjects watched a humor video; |
| other reasons, it could pay greatly by | | | | there also was a lingering effect that |
| reducing fat around your waist and | | | | continued to show increased levels the next |
| thighs.First of all, I am going dispel a few | | | | day.Laughter Decreases "Stress" Hormones:The |
| myths regarding the Cortisol fighting | | | | results of the study also supported research |
| snake-oils that are being advertised.Cortisol | | | | indicating a general decrease in stress |
| is caused by physical and emotional stress! | | | | hormones that constrict blood vessels and |
| Cortisol is a hormone released by your | | | | suppress immune activity. These were shown to |
| adrenal glands in response to either physical | | | | decrease in the study group exposed to |
| or emotional stress and that is the reason it | | | | humor.For example, levels of epinephrine were |
| is referred to as the "stress" hormone. | | | | lower in the group both in anticipation of |
| Whether it's a lot of missed nights of sleep, | | | | humor and after exposure to humor. |
| an extremely low calorie diet or getting | | | | Epinephrine levels remained down throughout |
| caught in a traffic jam, your body responds | | | | the experiment.In addition, dopamine levels |
| in much the same way. It secretes cortisol | | | | (as measured by dopac) were also decreased. |
| into your bloodstream, which can cause even | | | | Dopamine is involved in the "fight or flight |
| more problems.This hormone is part of the | | | | response" and is associated with elevated |
| "fight-or-flight" response that we have as | | | | blood pressure.Laughing is aerobic, providing |
| human beings. Faced with stressful situations | | | | a workout for the diaphragm and increasing |
| and danger, we are left to either run or | | | | the body's ability to use oxygen.Laughter |
| fight. Your body secretes this hormone as a | | | | brings in positive emotions that can enhance |
| way of defending against stress and danger. | | | | - not replace -- conventional treatments. |
| Primarily it increases the flow of glucose, | | | | Hence it is another tool available to help |
| protein and fat out of your tissues and into | | | | fight the disease.Experts believe that, when |
| your circulation system. For example, if a | | | | used as an adjunct to conventional care, |
| bear were chasing you in the woods, your | | | | laughter can reduce pain and aid the healing |
| energy levels would increase because it your | | | | process. For one thing, laughter offers a |
| body's natural response to a physical | | | | powerful distraction from pain.In a study |
| threat.The dangers of having these high | | | | published in the Journal of Holistic Nursing, |
| levels of the hormone have been associated | | | | patients were told one-liners after surgery |
| with storage of visceral fat, diabetes, heart | | | | and before painful medication was |
| disease, weakened immune system, and chronic | | | | administered. Those exposed to humor |
| depression.Now that you are a little more | | | | perceived less pain when compared to patients |
| educated, what do you think would be the best | | | | who didn't get a dose of humor as part of |
| idea for preventing these deadly, hormonal, | | | | their therapy.Perhaps, the biggest benefit of |
| Cortisol surges? Come-on, I know you know the | | | | laughter is that it is free and has no known |
| answer. It isn't in some magic | | | | negative side effects.So, here is a summary |
| Cortisol-blocking pill, is it? That's right, | | | | of how humor contributes to physical health. |
| you need to control your STRESS.You can take | | | | More details can be found in the article, |
| all the Cortisol blocking stuff you want, but | | | | Humor and Health contributed by Paul |
| if you aren't controlling your stress, you | | | | McGheeMuscle Relaxation - Belly laugh results |
| could easily be storing abdominal fat if you | | | | in muscle relaxation. While you laugh, the |
| are a man and hip and thigh fat if you are a | | | | muscles that do not participate in the belly |
| woman.I am not saying that supplementation | | | | laugh, relaxes. After you finish laughing |
| may not be required for some people. I | | | | those muscles involved in the laughter start |
| believe that if you aren't getting enough | | | | to relax. So, the action takes place in two |
| rest or you are unable to relax, you probably | | | | stages.Reduction of Stress Hormones - |
| need some nutrients put back into your body. | | | | Laughter reduces at least four of |
| Remember though, supplementation does not | | | | neuroendocrine hormones associated with |
| mean replacement. Learning how to get your | | | | stress response. These are epinephrine, |
| stress levels down is the most productive | | | | cortisol, dopac, and growth hormone.Immune |
| thing you can do.Also, if you are suffering | | | | System Enhancement - Clinical studies have |
| with anxiety and depression, your body may | | | | shown that humor strengthens the immune |
| need some real medical help to get your | | | | system.Pain Reduction - Humor allows a person |
| stress level down to something manageable. In | | | | to "forget" about pains such as aches, |
| fact, if you are under the kind of stress | | | | arthritis, etc.Cardiac Exercise - A belly |
| that causes weight gain, learning relaxation | | | | laugh is equivalent to "an internal jogging." |
| skills are probably the first things your | | | | Laughter can provide good cardiac |
| doctor will advise you to do. Also, if you | | | | conditioning especially for those who are |
| are suffering with anxiety and depression, | | | | unable to perform physical exercises.Blood |
| don't be afraid to consult with a qualified | | | | Pressure - Women seem to benefit more than |
| physician because they can really help you | | | | men in preventing hypertension.Respiration - |
| get your stress levels under control.Finally, | | | | Frequent belly laughter empties your lungs of |
| I went a long way to say, " Laughter will do | | | | more air than it takes in resulting in a |
| wonders for your stress levels". Relaxation | | | | cleansing effect - similar to deep breathing. |
| doesn't always mean just laying down watching | | | | Especially beneficial for patient's who are |
| TV so you can't use this issue article as an | | | | suffering from emphysema and other |
| excuse for being lazy. You just need to learn | | | | respiratory ailments. (SIDE BAR FROM Randall |
| how to calm down and recognize stress.Check | | | | Gartman: It will also help balance Oxygen and |
| out this research from Dr. Lee | | | | Co2 levels, which could help anxiety |
| Berk.Therapeutic Benefits of Laughter | | | | sufferers with hyperventilation)---End of |
| (RESEARCH)Dr. Lee Berk and fellow researcher | | | | Research---Now, Let me show you how you can |
| Dr. Stanley Tan of Loma Linda University in | | | | apply what you just learned.Sit in a chair, |
| California have been studying the effects of | | | | check your shoulders and let them relax but |
| laughter on the immune system. To date their | | | | keep your posture straight so you can breathe |
| published studies have shown that laughing | | | | properly. Imagine your butt sinking into your |
| lowers blood pressure, reduces stress | | | | chair but feel yourself centered, neither |
| hormones, increases muscle flexion, and | | | | leaning forward or back.Breathe in from your |
| boosts immune function by raising levels of | | | | diaphragm to the count of 4, hold your breath |
| infection-fighting T-cells, disease-fighting | | | | to count of 4 and release your breath to the |
| proteins called Gamma-interferon and B-cells, | | | | count of 4. If you want to know how to |
| which produce disease-destroying antibodies. | | | | breathe properly, watch an infant sleep |
| Laughter also triggers the release of | | | | because they haven't learned how to breathe |
| endorphins, the body's natural painkillers, | | | | improperly yet!As you take each breath, |
| and produces a general sense of | | | | tighten up your toes to the count of 4, hold |
| well-being.Following is a summary of his | | | | that tension to the count of 4 and release |
| research, taken from an interview published | | | | the tension slowly to the count of 4.Perform |
| in the September/October 1996 issue of the | | | | that routine for each body part in this |
| Humor and Health Journal.Laughter Activates | | | | order: toes, feet, calves, thighs, buttocks, |
| the Immune System:In Berk's study, the | | | | abs, chest, back, arms, hands, neck and |
| physiological response produced by belly | | | | face.After you finish the above exercise, |
| laughter was opposite of what is seen in | | | | discover what it's like to finally be relaxed |
| classical stress, supporting the conclusion | | | | and just sit there for a few minutes. If it |
| that mirthful laughter is a eustress state -- | | | | is at night, you can do this lying down so |
| a state that produces healthy or positive | | | | all you need to do is close your eyes and get |
| emotions.Research results indicate that, | | | | some sleep. However, if it is daytime, I want |
| after exposure to humor, there is a general | | | | you stand up (if you can) and stretch and put |
| increase in activity within the immune | | | | a big goofy smile on your face. I mean cross |
| system, including: An increase in the number | | | | your eyes and jump up and down like a crazy |
| and activity level of natural killer cells | | | | person. Don't stop until you are laughing!Now |
| that attack viral infected cells and some | | | | that you know that laughter is awesome |
| types of cancer and tumor cells.An increase | | | | medicine for fighting obesity and a variety |
| in activated T cells (T lymphocytes). There | | | | of health issues, how often do you think you |
| are many T cells that await activation. | | | | could practice putting a smile on your face? |
| Laughter appears to tell the immune system to | | | | I am getting thin right now. In fact, I am |
| "turn it up a notch."Increases antibodies IgA | | | | exercising in public right now--LOL.(c) 2003 |
| (immunoglobulin A), which fights upper | | | | - 2004 Randall T. |
| respiratory tract insults and infections.An | | | | |