The Power of a Smile

By Editorial Staff

OK, stop what you're doing and ask yourself this question: How many times a day do I smile? If you're surprised at how infrequently it happens, this article is for you. It's time to get more smiles into your life and reap the health and wellness benefits of a smile's power.

1. Less Stress: Believe it or not, when you smile, your brain releases dopamine and other "feel good" neurotransmitters. And how stressed can you feel when you're happy – and smiling?
2. Less Pain: Smiling also triggers the release of endorphins, chemicals that serve as the body's natural painkillers. You've heard the phrase, "smiling through the pain"? Try it and see what happens!
3. Lower Blood Pressure: The act of smiling involves facial contractions, increasing blood flow to the brain and reducing blood pressure after the muscles relax.
4. Higher Immunity: Antibody production increases when we smile. What's more, a happy, low-stress, pain-free state is optimal for a healthy immune system.

And that's just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the power of a smile. Simply put, the more you smile, the healthier you'll feel, body, mind and spirit.