Funny memes can be more beneficial than you might think at first glance. Laughing frequently isn’t just a nice feeling—it can do wonders for your physical and mental health, as well as your social life.
For one, you feel connected to other people when you laugh at something together, whether you’re watching a stand-up show with your friends or bombarding your relatives with the best memes you’ve stumbled across online.
“Humor and laughter naturally create bonds between us. Say you’re meeting someone new. If you can throw in a joke and make them laugh it’s like, ‘OK, we get each other,’ and you start to feel like you can be more your authentic self with them,” health psychologist Dr Grace Tworek told the Cleveland Clinic.
UCLA Health explains that laughter boosts your immune system and improves its ability to protect your body by fighting off viruses and healing from infections better.
“The act of laughing increases the production of immune cells and antibodies in your blood so you can mount a stronger response to germs and infections.”
Aside from benefiting your immune system, laughing a lot also decreases your stress levels, which is especially critical as you get older.
Chronic stress speeds up the aging process, while the inflammation it leads to puts you at higher risk of chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, etc. Meanwhile, laughter decreases the levels of the stress hormone cortisol.
Furthermore, laughter reduces physical tension and relaxes your muscles. Laughing regularly can also mean that you’re less likely to be diagnosed with heart disease or stroke, UCLA Health notes.
This is because laughing increases your heart and respiratory rates, meaning your heart beats stronger and faster while sending more oxygenated blood throughout your body. This improved circulation makes you more resilient to disease.
On top of that, laughter lowers blood pressure and can even promote a healthier body weight by burning up some calories. Another major benefit is that laughter can act as temporary pain relief by increasing your pain tolerance via the release of endorphins and changing your perception of the pain you feel.
According to UCLA Health, laughter has a “significantly positive effect” on a person’s mental health. It reduces anxiety, depression, and stress by releasing dopamine, oxytocin, and endorphins, which are chemicals that are associated with pleasure, motivation, and learning. Of course, laughter is most effective in a group setting, as it increases your sense of belonging and connection.
