A beaming face, smiling eyes, and underlying positive emotions improve your physical and emotional health in amazing ways:
Boost the mood
Smiling elevates a person's mood, while displaying a scowl makes people angry and frowning makes them sadder, according to the Psychological Bulletin which compiled data from 138 studies, with more than 11,000 participants.
Release stress
According to a study published in Psychological Science, smiling during times of stress reduces the body's response to pressure and lowers the heart rate during recovery from stress.
This is all the more true if the smile is genuine and the muscles around the mouth and eyes are worked.
Lower blood pressure
A study from the University of Maryland's School of Medicine found that laughing makes blood vessels work better, which helps blood flow and lowers blood pressure.
Strengthen the immune system
Older adults who smiled and were happy to receive their annual flu shot produced up to 14% more protective antibodies * and were less likely to get sick, according to a study published in Brain, Behavior and Immunity.
Ease the pain
Laughter and humor can increase pain tolerance and improve quality of life, reports a study from the University of Zurich.
Humor and a positive outlook on life help control pain by releasing endorphins and relieving muscle tension, suggest the Swiss researchers.
Be more resilient
Smiling helps people cope more easily with emotionally difficult events.
In the Journal of Abnormal Psychology, it is said that the more bereaved spouses who smiled or laughed when they spoke about their relationship with their late spouse six months after their death, the better they cope with their grief 25 months after the person left.
compared to those who smiled less.
Extend the service life
A 2010 study published in Psychological Science of more than 200 major league baseball players shows that those who smile more intensely and more sincerely lived longer than those who did not.
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