You're probably familiar with the adage, "Laughter is the best medicine." According to a clinical study from Vanderbilt University, that may not be far from the truth. Vanderbilt says laughter can help burn calories, and previous research by Johns Hopkins Medical School and Loma Linda University lists a host of other laughter-induced health benefits.
Calorie Expenditure
According to a study by Vanderbilt University, laughter can increase energy expenditure and blood circulation by raising the heart rate 10 to 20 percent. Over 10 to 15 minutes that can burn between 10 and 40 calories, depending on your weight and activity level. Over the course of a year, that could lead to four pounds in weight loss, simply by enjoying yourself.
Vanderbilt Study
The Vanderbilt Study, conducted in 2005, took 45 pairs of friends and placed them in a metabolic chamber that was designed to look like a hotel. Each pair was shown 10 minute comedy skits. As they laughed, researchers measured differences in oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in the room. Elevated oxygen consumption leads to an elevated heart rate, which burns calories. Those who laughed more consumed more oxygen, causing the researchers to conclude that laughing can lead to weight loss.
Other Benefits
Beyond calorie expenditure, laughter has also been shown to improve your health quality in several ways. Loma Linda University discovered that laughter improves immunoglobulins, which combat disease, by 14 percent. Johns Hopkins Medical School found that it improves brain capacity by looking at laughter in relation to test scores. For example, people who laughed more scored higher on exams. Also, a study by UCLA found that laughter can help with pain management -- and the University of Maryland discovered a correlation between laughing and improved circulation.
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