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Have you ever laughed until your belly hurt, or until you got teary-eyed, or you could hardly breathe? Don't worry, no harm will come to you or your body. In fact, you may be even doing your health a lot of good.

That's not all. There are many health benefits to laughing. You can actually give up those stress relieving medications or health boosters. Laughing a few times a day actually will take their place.

In What Ways Does Laughing Benefit You?

Laughter activates the release of substances called endorphins into your blood. This substance, as it traverses your veins and goes through your body and your brain, is what causes that relaxing, happy, overflowing feeling when you laugh, and makes you want to laugh more.

But laughter not only makes you happy; it also does create positive physiological effects on your body:

- It lowers blood pressure. First, blood pressure rises when you start to laugh, then it goes down below the normal level. When you laugh, your tendency is also to take in a lot of air, and with it, oxygen, which gets into your blood and feed your body. Oxygen is good because it stimulates the circulation of blood and the processes of your body.

- Laughing is also a stress reliever because it increases the heart and pulse rate which helps regulate body organ activity, and gives you more energy.

- It also prevents fats and cholesterol from building up in the body, and reduces your chances of having a heart attack by strengthening your heart.

- Also by reducing stress, laughter also reduces blood sugar levels. Excessively high sugar levels are associated with health problems like diabetes and obesity.

Laughter As An Exercise

Laughing also has an effect on you physically. It does a lot of good to your body by the bending and stretching movements your body does while you laugh. And since you inhale and exhale air a lot while laughing, you take in a lot of oxygen and release waste carbon dioxide. This air exchange has the effect of conditioning your muscles and body organs similar to the effect of an actual physical workout.

- 'Laughter yoga' is a great source of exercise. All you do is yoga and implement laughter, and there you go Laughter Yoga. You get all the benefits of yoga and laughing at the same time.

Laughter and Mental Health

Laughing helps release any mental frustrations, and any weight you hold emotionally. It also picks up your mood, and helps you focus on more positive energies.

- When you get to the point where you are laughing hysterically you'll get a sense of relief and feel more relaxed.

- Laughing with your loved ones and family helps get over even the most difficult of situations. It breaks up tension so you are able to cope with the issue at hand.

Laugh Everyday

Along with healthy food, exercise, and natural air and sunshine, laughter is probably one of the least expensive and most effective 'medicines' for good health - mental, physical and emotional. And it certainly is the most enjoyable of all!