“Angels can fly because they take themselves lightly” (Chesterton). Laughter is a good friend of ours. Not the kind of friend we met at a football game and we are definitely going to hang out with again. We’re talking Spongebob and Patrick kind of friend, a bond so strong it makes duct tape jealous. Laughter is there to help us in the worst of times and it’s there to share with us the best of times. Whether it’s through some jerk falling down a hundred stairs or your favorite sitcom that all your friends think is stupid, laughter is there for you. Laughter boosts our health and livelihood in every fashion: physically, mentally, and socially. Laugh a little, and you can bench press a dinosaur. Chuckle at something, and you can solve the Quadratic Formula. Bust a gut, and maybe your in-laws will actually like you. It’s through our joy that we learn healthiness, our smiles beget the strength of our hearts in every way .

Laughter helps your body and its functions in a variety of nifty ways. The website Naturalnews.com states that:

Laughter increases oxygenation of your body at both the cellular and organ level…oxygen is one of the primary catalysts for biological energy in the human body…it’s also interesting to note that cancer cells are destroyed in the presence of oxygen. In fact, many parasites and bacteria don’t survive well in the presence of oxygen, and to the extent that you can circulate extra oxygen throughout your body, you can help prevent, or in some cases treat, these diseases. (Adams)

As it turns out, oxygen, energy, and a lack of cancer have all been found to be good for a person’s body. To further support laughter’s claim to healing abilities, the Saturday Evening Post tells us that “with a few chuckles, oxygen consumption is increased, and afterward there’s a decrease in blood pressure, heart rate, and respiratory rate. Studies suggest laughter may decrease stress hormones…” (Donaldson). These statements show that laughter is truly good on someones physical well being. So don’t feel too bad for laughing at that racy comment Mr. Stand-Up Comedian said, because hey, you’re feeling better. Whether laughter boosts the good already in us, or reduces the bad stuck inside of us, it’s a gift for your body.

Laughter itself is not only a boost physically; it has positive effects on your mentality and your mood. Mayoclinic.com informs us that “laughter can also make it easier to cope with difficult situations…” (“Stress Relief”). Dealing with tough situations is no fun, and any amount of help will always be appreciated. If you’ve ever taken part in a math class, you understand what that can mean. As it turns out, laughter is an ever-present source of assistance to us. To further back these claims to mental benefits, pbs.org states that laughter produces increased creativity, improved problem-solving abilities, enhanced memory, and an increased ability to cope with stress by providing an alternative, less serious perspective on one’s problems (“Humor”). So you may think it’s morally incorrect to make fun of that girl that just dumped you, and it probably is. If it means you feel better though, then by all means go for it. It is research such as this that shows how laughter produces mental benefits. Maybe it would be more appropriate to watch Family Guy all night rather than study for that big test; but that’s only food for thought.

Socially, you want life to be good. Social health is a far underestimated aspect of wellness, and while laughter helps our body and mind, it isn’t afraid to help with this, too.. New York Times tells us that “Dr. Dunbar thinks laughter may have been favored by evolution because it helped bring human groups together, the way other activities like singing and dancing do” (Gorman). This proves to us that laughter helps us out socially. Even the cave people liked that stuff, so clearly it’s pretty cool. Again, laughter’s benefits are supported by extensive research; in an article called “The Funny Thing About Laughter,” it is stated that “one thing researchers notice about laughter is that it’s something we seldom do alone. ‘Laughter is 30 times more frequent in social than solitary situations,’ says Robert Provine, psychologist and neuroscientist at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County” (qtd in Jeffrey). So the next time you bring someone to a movie date, you take that ladies hand and go watch a comedy. Watching one of the thousands of Saw movies isn’t necessarily bonding. These facts illustrate to us that laughter helps us out socially, and its benefits serve vital purposes in our lives.

Laughter, to some people, might seem like this awkward noise we make with our mouth hole whenever something is amusing. Awkward noise it may be, but that awkward noise is your doctor, your therapist, your social reputation; that weird little noise that’s appropriate everywhere except funerals is far more than it seems. Laughter helps us to be healthier and livelier in every way. Our body, our minds, and our sociality are all improved by means of a few giggles, or an absolute gut busting, face burning, abdominal workout of a laughing attack. Laughter in any dose can fight illness, carry people through a hard time, and bring people together. It’s more than just a peculiar noise we make when something amusing or weird happens, it’s life’s funny way of making us feel better. So the key to happiness is really the result of happiness: laughter. So laugh out loud, and reap the benefits.

Works Cited

Adams, Mike. “Laughter is good medicine for reducing stress, enhancing brain

chemistry.” .com/">naturalnews.com. 28 April 2005. Web. 1 December 2011.


Donaldson, Doug. “The Giggle Cure.” Saturday Evening Post. 283.1 (2007): 25-29,4. MasterFILE Premier. Web. 30 Nov. 2011.

Gorman, James. “Scientists Hint at Why Laughter Feels So Good.” New York Times. 14 Sept. 2011. Web. 1 Dec. 2011.

“Humor.” .org/">Pbs.org. Web. 1 Dec. 2011.

Jeffrey, Carolina, et.al. “The Funny Thing About Laughter.” Time. 165.3. (2005):A24-A29. Academic Search Premier. Web. 1 Dec. 2011.


“Stress relief from laughter? Yes, no joke.” MayoClinic.com. 2 Aug. 2011. Web.






1 Dec. 2011.
Chesterton, GK. “QuotedB.” Web. 19 Dec. 2011.