A Japanese study shows that diabetics can process sugar
better if they laugh during the meal. Laughter has also been
shown to help high blood pressure, stimulate the nervous
system, heighten the immune system, release natural
painkillers and make the heart stronger.
During the study, Dr. Keiko Hayashi measured the blood
glucose levels of 19 diabetics and five non-diabetics before
and after they ate the same meal, on two separate days. On
one day, participants listened to a 40-minute lecture, which
was "monotonous" and "without humorous content." On the
second day, participants were part of an audience of 1,000
people who watched a Japanese comedy show. At the end of
the show, "most" participants "considered that they laughed
well," according to Hayashi.
He found that blood glucose levels after the meal were higher
after participants heard the boring lecture than after they
heard the comedy show, in both diabetics and non-diabetics.
The reasons why laughter reduces blood glucose aren't clear,
but Hayashi thinks laughter could increase energy
consumption by working the abdominal muscles.
Hayashi says, "If positive emotion such as laughter reduced
blood glucose, both patients and medical providers should
recognize the importance of it?We should laugh more."
But the way our
government works? That's no laughing matter!
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