Laugh your way healthy!

Who knew? Laughing out loud is a proven health booster. Here, all the ways being in stitches tunes up your body and mind.

-  GABRIELLE LICHTERMAN

Sitcoms dial down pain

Dealing with arthritis pain, a backache or other ouches? Turn on a funny TV show like Abbott Elementary. Laughter eases discomfort so effectively, researchers from Turkey found it transformed moderate pain into mild pain for knee surgery patients within 20 minutes. They say that a hearty guffaw triggers the release of painkilling serotonin and endorphins.

Ward off colds with funny videos

To lower your risk of a stuffy nose or sore throat, make it a habit to visit YouTube.com and search for stand-up routines from your favorite comedians. Or simply watch free episodes of America's Funniest Home Videos at YouTube.​com/@afv. Johns Hopkins University research found people who appreciate sidesplitting jokes or humorous situations are less likely to develop colds or other respiratory infections. Why? A great sense of humor lowers stress, which boosts your immune system's production of a virus-fighting antibody, helping you stay healthy.

OR PUT YOUR FEET UP