Laugh It Up

Exercise your funny bone by finding humor and spreading it around

THEY SAY LAUGHTER is the best medicine … yet it's also contagious. Who are they exactly, and why are they trying to confuse us?

Okay, that was a lame attempt at a humorous icebreaker. Now that said ice is indeed broken, let's get serious about laughter. You know a giggle feels good and a from-the-gut guffaw is even better, but can laughing really be good for you? You bet your whoopee cushion!

Numerous studies have shown both the mental and physical benefits of a good laugh, according to Brad Nieder, M.D., general practitioner/comedian. Nieder shares a healthy dose of humor and wellness advice with the many audiences he entertains across the country as "The Healthy Humorist."

"Laughing reduces cortisol, that fight-or-flight stress hormone in our blood, and produces a relaxing and calming effect," says Nieder. "It also promotes IgA and T-cell activity, the immune cells that protect us from illness." Recent research shows that even theanticipation of laughter-that something funny is about to happen-can also reduce stress.

These days, it can seem as if there's not much funny to be found, yet it's needed more than ever. Here are some ideas to help you add a little joy to your world-and put a smile on the faces of your loved ones.

Watch it

Enjoy a funny movie or a favorite sitcom with your family. While a chuckle in front of the TV can't fix everything, it can certainly lighten your load. "Worries about jobs and mortgages and credit cards are a big deal, and watching a comedy won't solve those problems," says Nieder. "But an opportunity to escape and enjoy a little levity can help provide a glimpse of the light at the end of the tunnel."

Get into the act

Treat your family or friends to an improvisational or stand-up comedy show. Feeling particularly brave? Visit on amateur night and try your hand at cracking others up. If you can't take the whole gang out, create your own comedy routines at home. Who didn't stage elaborate productions for friends and relatives when they were kids? Show your offspring how it's done, and then let them entertain you.

Give yourself props

Keep items around you that make you smile, like a funny picture from your last vacation or a goofy toy you can pass around with your co-workers. "I have daily ritual with a page-a-day humor calendar. It's my morning laughter pill," says Nieder.

Find the humor, pass it on

Just like our other individual tastes, everyone's sense of humor is unique. But there's plenty to laugh at all around us. "Turn on your radar and find the absurdities in everyday life," says Nieder. "It's out there waiting to make you laugh." Once you find your funny place, spread the laughter. It'll come back to you.
-By Allison Thomas