By Nancy Adler
It turns out the benefits of smiling aren’t just limited to yourself. It can also affect those around you. We know that our brains react when we smile, but we’re also rewarded when we see someone else smile. The reward center of our brain is activated and it makes us feel better. Plus, we can’t help but react with a smile of our own when we see someone smiling so it becomes a loop of happiness.
They say it takes more muscles to frown than to smile, and although there’s no hard evidence to support that, we do know that smiling comes with some real-life benefits. It’s not always the easiest thing to do, especially after a long and stressful day. But if you can take it upon yourself to crack a smile, you’ll actually feel better. Smiles are powerful. Not only do they generate engagement between two people, but the more someone smiles, the healthier his/her brain can be! Smiling more often, regardless of your mood, can improve your health and even help you live longer.
Smiling releases endorphins, which helps a person feel happier and more positive. It’s been found that facial expressions, such as smiling, can improve one’s mood and increase positive thoughts. So, the next time you’re feeling a little blue, try smiling. It might make you feel better!
Believe it or not, a good laugh relieves some body aches or pains. As I mentioned above, laughing also triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemical. I Believe laughter is actually the best medicine, as it allows the body to produce its own natural painkillers. So, get a good laugh in, because it’s healthy.
Heart health is very important and laughing or smiling more can help lower your blood pressure. Did you know that the act of laughter can lead to an immediate increase in heart rate and oxygen consumption, followed by a period of muscle relaxation, decreased heart rate and lower blood pressure. Even the small amount helps reduce someone’s risk of developing heart disease. Did you know that laughing or smiling helps boost your body’s immune system? Well, it does! Laughter, which often starts with a smile, increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, which improves your resistance to illnesses.
Relieve stress through laughter. That’s right, smiling or laughing activates and relieves your stress response. Individuals that face stressful situations smiling were found to have lower heart rates compared to those who weren’t smiling.
Better relationships are experienced. People who smile are usually identified as being more likable, compared to those who don’t smile. If you are a “likable” person, then you also have a better chance at building and maintaining relationships with people, which benefits you and your overall well-being. Smiling makes you more approachable.
While you might not actually decrease in age, smiling or laughing more often can give the illusion that you look younger than you are. Studies show when people looked at photos of happy faces, they guessed the age of the person in the photo as younger compared to photos of the same person with a neutral or angry expression. Go ahead and smile! You’re only embracing your youthful appearance.
Feel-good benefits aside, smiling and happiness can actually affect your job performance. Positive emotions appear to invigorate human beings, while negative emotions have the opposite effect.
As you can see, smiling and laughter are very beneficial for your mind, body and overall well-being. Regardless of your mood, it’s okay to crack a smile or spit out a laugh. In fact, it’s healthy for you! So the next time you’re feeling like a pick-me-up, try busting out a toothy grin and it could give you the lift you’re looking for. And if you’re already in a good mood, why not flash those pearly whites at a stranger and pass along the good vibes?
Nancy Adler is a certified nutritionist and practitioner in Linwood. Her office is located in Cornerstone Commerce Center, 1201 New Rd. Learn about her practice at ww.nancyadlernutrition.com (609)653-4900
You may listen to Nancy every Sunday at 2 pm Nancy Adler Nutrition LIVE! NewsTalk 1400 WOND
