July 8, 2010
Updated Jul 8, 2010 at 4:03 PM EDT
For years, researchers have known that laughter is good for the body and mind. Now, a new study has discovered specifically why and how laughter really is the best medicine. It turns out that when under stress, the body produces a hormone called cortisol. That hormone raises blood pressure and blood sugar. But, researchers at Loma Linda University in California report that laughter actually reduces cortisol. That in turn boosts the immune system by producing antibodies. In fact, the researchers report that laughing offers the same kind of benefit to the heart as exercise. Experts add that laughter can also help relieve symptoms of depression and other mental illnesses.
