Laughter, it’s said, is the best medicine. It’s one of the best tools we have for dealing with stress and relieving discomfort. You see, when we laugh, it improves the flow of oxygen to the heart and the brain, which helps to improve our immune system and uplift our mood.

Research has shown that laughter also has an anti-inflammatory effect that protects blood vessels and heart muscles from the damaging effects of cardiovascular disease.

And laughter appears to burn calories, too! Vanderbilt University conducted a small study in which they measured the amount of calories expended in laughing. It turned out that 10-15 minutes of laughter burned 50 calories.

So, get together more often with friends that make you laugh. Consider taking a class of laughter yoga (Yes, that’s a thing!). In laughter yoga, people practice laughter as a group. Laughter is forced at first, but it can soon turn into spontaneous laughter. Watch more funny videos online and on social media. Every time you type “Lol” on your text messages, actually do, physically, laugh out loud. Go to a comedy club. And, most of all, don’t be afraid to laugh at yourself and your mistakes. Humility is actually healthy, and not taking ourselves too seriously keeps everything in perspective. But remember, there is a difference between laughing at yourself and putting yourself down, or laughter at another’s expense. Those aren’t so healthy.

This is an excerpt from my new book; “Fitness and Anti-Aging Secrets: Cracking the Code to Looking and Feeling Younger in Mid-Life and Beyond”, available at www.Amazon.com/author/jackwitt