Laughter – The Best Medicine
Laughter reduces stress
The secretion of cortisol and epinephrine (adrenaline), dopamine and growth hormones in the body tend to be limited when you laugh. These hormones are the main reasons cause stress, inhibit the immune system and create a loophole for infection and illness. Laughing also helps release endorphins, health-enhancing hormones. That is one of the reasons we feel good when we laugh. Many studies have proven laughter helps reduce stress, improve immune function. Laughing puts in a more positive frame of mind. It helps release some of the negative emotions attached to negative thoughts. Life is always beyond our control, uncertainties always struck suddenly make us confused and frustrated. Although it’s almost impossible to manage everything, but we can completely choose how to react to those events. Laughter is a solution quickly and efficiently help us relieve stress caused by bad situations, help us overcome the difficulties gently.
Laughter boosts the immune system
The physical and emotional stress can make prolactin, insulin, and thyroid hormone not operate normally, leave bad effect on the immune function. Laughter can increase the immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, thus improving your resistance to disease. Overall, scientists have found that optimistic people are always healthier, fight illness better and live longer.
Laughter helps regulate blood pressure and blood circulation
Studies have found that laughter reduces blood pressure and increase, balance blood circulation. According to the results of research from the Maryland University (USA) on the relationship between laughter and heart health, laughter makes the membrane of blood vessels dilated, improve blood circulation. Laughter also lowers blood pressure. People who laugh heartily on a regular basis have lower standing blood pressure than the average person. The ability to increase blood circulation and increase oxygen intake make laughter become a powerful method in fighting against heart diseases.
Laughter improves stamina in athletes
Besides the effect of burning down energy in the body, laughter also works to clean the respiratory system. Similar to exercise, you often take a deep breath after laughing, which will immediately open the airways, increasing the amount of oxygen inhaled. Since breathing capacity is one of the factors which determines stamina in sports, laughter before any competitive sports activity will increase the relaxation levels and hence, performance.
Laughter is good for diabetics
In some studies, scientists have discovered that laughter has a positive impact on blood sugar levels. An interesting experiment on a group of patients with type 2 diabetes has found that their blood sugar levels stay more stable while watching a comedy than listening to boring lectures. Also another study has shown a significant reduction of enzyme renin upon the application of this therapy. This means, laughter can help diabetics avoid complications related to micro-blood vessels.
Laughter relieves pain
Laughter brings the focus away from anger, guilt, stress and even the pain in a more beneficial way. Laughter is the best natural analgesic. Additionally, it costs nothing. Maybe you would not be in mood of laughing if you unfortunately fell or cut yourself, but try to smile in these situations and you will recognize the difference. Laughter triggers the release of endorphins so your pain will quickly be relieved.
Laughter promotes social relationships
Laughter is contagious, so if you bring more laughter into your life, you can most likely help others around you laugh more. When we laugh with one another, a positive bond is created. By elevating the mood of those around you, you can diminish their stress levels, and possibly improve the quality of social interaction. The researchers said that the laughter will help people to communicate with each best as it is the most friendly international language. Besides, humors and laughter in relationships allow you to express your true feelings, which can bring only good effect to our lives.
Categories: General, Health Care Tags: benefits of laughter, blood pressure, diabetes, healthy heart, laughter and stress, stress relief
Lower Your Cholesterol With Foods
We’ve all been told to keep our bad cholesterol down. LDL is bad cholesterol which forms plague that make your arteries hard and narrow. HDL is good cholesterol removes excess LDL in your blood and brings it to your liver for disposal. The more HDL you consume, the less LDL you’ll have in your blood. But how could you know what kind of foods can help increase your good cholesterol? Most people are afraid that eating protein rich foods will boost the amount of bad cholesterol level. However, not all protein rich foods are high in LDL but actually foods contain high amount of saturated fat are really risky for your health. Below are recommended foods that lower your cholesterol level, specifically LDL cholesterol.
Red wine
Scientists believe that wines have lower alcohol content such as red wine contain resveratrol, an antioxidant that is linked to prevent LDL cholesterol from oxidizing in your arteries. In addition, antioxidants in red wine help boost the body’s resistance. However, American Heart Association recommends that two glasses of red wine for men and one glass for women a day could be helpful enough.
Fish and fish oil
Eating fish can be heart-healthy because of its high levels of omega-3 fatty acids, which can reduce your blood pressure. This essential fatty acid has been shown to increase levels of HDL cholesterol while lowering levels of LDL cholesterol. With people who have already suffered from heart attacks, fish oil – or omega-3 fatty acids – can help reduce the risk of sudden death. Doctors recommend eating at least two servings of fish a week, and with those with type 2 diabetes should consume high doses of fish oil to lower the size and concentration of several lipoprotein subclasses (cholesterol) in their bodies.
Popcorn
Popcorn is considered low in saturated fat and high of fiber, good for health. Also, popcorn is a food rich in energy.
Walnuts
According to some scientific researches, walnuts contain many healthy ingredients such as omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants and phytosterols which work to reverse the arterial damage caused by saturated fats. These substances help increase HDL cholesterol and significantly decrease LDL cholesterol levels.
Vinegar and lemon juice
Vinegar or lemon juice is an indispensable spice in making salads. A recent study has shown that vinegar made from fruit may help increase HDL cholesterol. Also, vinegar is also effective in reducing blood sugar and accelerating the fat burning process.
Margarine
A teaspoon of butter contains 7gram saturated fat – more than 1/3 our needs, which will increase the bad cholesterol level in our bodies. To avoid this risk, you should use margarine as alternatives such as olive oil and other vegetable oils. Consuming 2-3 tablespoons of olive oil per day has been shown to decrease LDL cholesterol levels in the blood significantly.
Seafood
Seafood such as salmon, oysters, crabs… are rich in omega-3 fatty acids which are very good for health especially those with heart disease and high blood pressure. Also, the seafood is almost no saturated fat.
Nonfat yogurt
This is one of the best foods for our health because they virtually have no saturated fats and are best source of probiotics. Several studies have shown that the probiotics Lactobacillus Acidophilus and Lactobacillus Reuteri actually help lower cholesterol by working to prevent the absorption of cholesterol back into the blood stream.
Related Topics:
- lemon juice and lower ldl cholesterol
Categories: Health Care Tags: cholesterol levels, HDL cholesterol, healthy heart, LDL cholesterol