Eight Days of Laughter – Day 3
For the next six days we will show a benefit to adding daily doses of laughter into your life.
Reason #3 to Laugh…
STRENGTHENS IMMUNE SYSTEM
Laughter increases the body’s natural defense mechanism…
Laugh and never get sick again!!
Check out this great research from laughteronlineuniversity
In clear: when you laugh, the diaphragm becomes a powerful pump for your lymphatic circulation, much like your heart serves as the central pump that propels blood through your blood vessels.
This assists the lymphatic vessels in carrying this fluid through your body and helps your lymph nodes to clean and filter this fluid, removing waste products, dead cells, and even unwanted microorganisms.
Maintaining clean body fluids is important because these are necessary for you to be at your best. Increased lymphatic flow = an elevated, improved immune system just by the simple nature of more lymph flowing through the nodes, thus producing more lymphocytes, antibodies, etc.
Engaging the diaphragm with ANY type of deep breathing (laughter included), immediately engages the parasympathetic nervous system.
The parasympathetic nervous system signals ALL body systems to SLOW down, thus producing “feel good” hormones (endorphins) that signal stress hormones to cool it.
Once that signal is received, blood pressure drops, heart rate slows and an overall glow of “happiness in the moment” replaces anxiety/stress – the perfect “domino effect”.
Check this out!!! This is incredible!!!
Watching a one-hour comedy video for example has been found to produce:
- Increased number and activation of T cells; (T cell: A type of white blood cell that is of key importance to the immune system and is at the core of adaptive immunity, the system that tailors the body’s immune response to specific pathogens. The T cells are like soldiers who search out and destroy the targeted invaders.)
- Increased number of Helper T cells (the cells attacked by the AIDS virus);
- Increased ratio of Helper/Suppressor T cells;
- Increased number and activity of Natural Killer (NK) cells;
- Increased levels of Gamma Interferon;
- Increased number of B cells. (B-cells are a type of white blood cell that help fight infection by hunting down germs. All germs have antigens. B-cells know that when they see antigens, they’re dealing with a germ. The B-cells then create an antibody that attaches to the germ’s antigen, sending a signal for backup.)
Here are some quotes from famous doctors:
- “The simple truth is that happy people generally don’t get sick.” – Bernie Siegel, M.D. (an internationally recognized expert in the field of cancer treatment and complementary holistic medicine)
- “The best clinicians understand that there is an intrinsic physiological intervention brought about by positive emotions such as mirthful laughter, optimism and hope.” – Lee Berk, DrPH, Assoc Res Pro Loma Linda School of Medicine
- “For the most part, when you go and get medical treatment, a clinician is not necessarily going to tell you to take two aspirins and watch Laurel and Hardy, but the reality is that’s where we are and it’s more real than ever. There’s a real science to this. And it’s as real as taking a drug.” – Lee Berk, DrPH, Assoc Res Pro Loma Linda School of Medicine
- “Daily opportunities for laughter are important for patients with diabetes” – Keiko Hayashi, RN, PhD
- “Believe it or not, having a really hearty chuckle can help too. This is because laughing gets the diaphragm moving and this plays a vital part in moving blood around the body.” – Dr. Andrea Nelson, University of Leeds School of Healthcare
As we found out yesterday, laughter helps with the circulation of blood throughout the body allowing major organs (Lungs, Heart and Muscles) to function at their highest level.
Bottom line for today?
If you don’t laugh your immune system will crash and burn and your body will be overcome by weird diseases with names that have seventeen letters in them due to the person who discovered the disease in some distant hinterland.
Laugh today or be sick and gone tomorrow!
If you’re gone by tomorrow you’ll miss out on “Eight Days of Laughter – Day 4!!!”
See you tomorrow!!
How do I know?
Because you’re laughing!!
Grace and peace,
Laugh often and Fear not!
David!
Eight Days of Laughter – Day 1
Eight Days of Laughter – Day 2