Health and humor

Emily Proctor<proctor8@msu.edu>, Michigan State University Extension -

Have you laughed today?

Laughter, some say, is the best medicine. According to Psychology Today, when it comes to coping with life’s stressors, laughter continues to be one of the best methods to a persons well-being. DreamCatchers, the social profit (non-profit) organization founded by the officers of Kifaru Productions, has co-produced with the Northern Navajo Medical Center Health Promotions Program of Shiprock, New Mexico, a health and fitness organization, to produce a two video set entitled REZ ROBICS and REZ ROBICS for couch potato skins.

The project was inspired by the fact that diabetes has become one of the most serious threats to the health of Indian people both on the reservations and in urban settings, as addressed by Rez-Robics in their excersie videos. The videos encourages those with diabetes, in particulatr American Indians, to be physically active while taking the time to laugh about daily situations. In addition, according to the Helpguide: A Trusted Non-Profit Resource, it is believed that with support and self-help options, you can understand, prevent and resolve many of life’s challenges. It suggests that laughter can assist in the following situations:

  • Laughter relaxes the whole body. A good, hearty laugh relieves physical tension and stress, leaving your muscles relaxed for up to 45 minutes after.
  • Laughter boosts the immune system. Laughter decreases stress hormones and increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, thus improving your resistance to disease.
  • Laughter triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals. Endorphins promote an overall sense of well-being and can even temporarily relieve pain.
  • Laughter protects the heart. Laughter improves the function of blood vessels and increases blood flow, which can help protect you against a heart attack and other cardiovascular problems.

So when you are looking for a quick way to increase your mood, bring positivity around you and others, Michigan State University Extension recommends to incoroporate humor and laughter into your daily routine to increase your quality of life and to better your overall health.

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).

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  • chronic disease,
  • diabetes,
  • food & health,
  • msu extension,
  • nutrition
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