Laughter and the Brain

“Your sense of humor is one of the most powerful tools you have to make certain that your daily mood and emotional state support good health.” ~ Paul E. McGhee, Ph.D.

Detox Step 8
Before beginning our discussion of laughter, I'd like to spend a few minutes on last week's detox area which focused on nutrition.  I have continued researching the topic and came across a number of articles and videos by a retired neurosurgeon named Russell Blaylock, MD.  Last week I directed you to a video clip of Dr. Blaylock  speaking about the connection between nutrition and the brain.  I have since found more information about him and his research, and I ended up ordering a book written by him called Excitotoxins: The Taste that Kills.  I'm still in the process of reading it, but it deals with a number of food additives and their danger to our brains.... In particular MSG, glutamate and asparate.  These are ingredients found in many seasonings, canned soups, diet soft drinks, and numerous other diet foods.  There is a massive amount of evidence that leads some scientists to conclude that these food additives actually destroy brain cells, and at their worst play a very harmful role in brain development of young children's brains, as well as brain diseases such as Alzheimers, ALS, and Parkinsons.  Concerns about autism, ADHD, depression, and violence have been linked to these additives as well. I don't want to be a alarmist, because I don't know enough about it...but I certainly have read enough to cause me to become more aware of the additives in our foods and drinks, the chemical processes involved in creating them,  and the possible affects that they might have on our brains.  We take medications all the time that come with warning labels.  I wonder if it would change our consuming habits if we read on the side of our diet soda can...'this product has been known to cause convulsions in rats, brain damage in babies and Alzheimers in adults'....just thinking out loud...

        If you're interested in hearing more on this topic, you may want to just give a quick listen to the beginning of one of Dr. Blaylock's lectures. (it's about 10 minutes)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQQGkMhjWig


But enough of the serious 'MSG stuff', let's lighten up and discuss laughter. Did you know we change physiologically when we laugh?  We stretch muscles throughout our face and body.  Our pulse and blood pressure go up and we breathe faster, sending more oxygen to our tissues.  Laughter also triggers the release of endorphins, the body's nature feel-good chemicals. And laughter gives a boost to our immune system.  
So, let's learn more about the power of laughter in this brief video http://www.webmd.com/balance/video/laughter-heals

I'm sure most of you have heard of the best selling book written by Norman Cousins; The Anatomy of an Illness. This fascinating real life story takes the reader on Cousin's journey as he battles a painful, life-threatening illness through humor and patient participation in care. It has been referred to as a 'groundbreaking' classic. It was the first book by a patient that spoke to our current interest in taking charge of our own health. It started the revolution in patients working with their doctors and using humor to boost their bodies' capacity for healing.  

Although most of us are probably not dealing with serious medical issues, (thank you, Lord) wouldn't we all like to be a bit healthier and happier? Laughter can do the trick; so says this article titled : Laughter is Strong Medicine for Mind and Body': It begins...."With so much power to heal and renew the ability to laugh easily and frequently is a tremendous resource for surmounting problems enhancing your relationships and supporting both physical and emotional health. Laughter is a powerful antidote to stress, pain and conflict.  Nothing works faster or more dependably to bring your mind and body back into balance than a good laugh."... Does this not sound like something the trees in our brains would appreciate?

With 80% of all illnesses and 80% of all drugs prescribed today having to do with stress, doesn't it strike you as a worth while project to delve into discovering the power of laughter as an antidote for your own life?
  
So if laughter is so good for us, how can we laugh more?....Maybe we should just do it!  Don't hold back...when something strikes you as funny take action...laugh.  Watch shows on TV that make you laugh, hang out with the people that make you laugh...read books that are funny, go to comedy shows and, most importantly, look for the humor in every day life. 

We have all enjoyed the aftermath of a good old fashioned 'roll on the floor laugh session'.  When I think back to one of those episodes (usually with my sisters)  I can just visualize my brain receiving it, much like a garden after a summer rain. No doubt laughter is a wonderful tool to creating a healthy brain and I'm determined to do more giggling, chuckling and belly laughing...how about you?  I dare you to laugh more!


If you would like to find out more about the chemistry behind the benefits of laughter read this article.
http://www.naturalnews.com/007551_health_habits_chronic_stress.html

Homework:
Awareness: Do your own observations to see how much children laugh...how about adults? 

Reflection:  How much do you laugh everyday?  Write in your journal and decide how you can use the suggestions above to increase your amount of laughter.  Monitor your results.

Read Page 128-129 in Who Switched off My Brain

Continue to put money in your pampering pot.

Please share some of your 'aha' moments or observations on the blog or email me at smallsteps4bigresults@yahoo.com