According to Robert McGrath, a psychologist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (USA), laughing is beneficial for your health for several reasons. For one thing, humor reduces stress hormones . In addition, an "intense laugh increases the heart rate, stimulates the immune system, enhances alertness and makes us exercise our muscles," explains McGrath. Not forgetting that when we laugh they increase the levels of endorphins, the body's natural anesthetic .
What's more, even after "having a laugh" the body continues to notice its effects. "After laughing, there is a short period during which the blood pressure drops and the heart slows down, " says the researcher, who recommends 30 minutes a day of exercise and 15 minutes of humor.
