It doesn’t take a genius to know that laughing makes us feel good – who doesn’t feel great after a giggle? But there’s more to laughter than meets the eye.

Physical

“Physically, laughing can help strengthen the immune system, improve cardiovascular health and reduce pain and inflammation,” explains Dr Becky Spelman, registered psychologist, founder and CEO of The Private Therapy Clinic. Laughter is thought to boost our immunity by increasing the number of cells that fight certain illnesses, although further study is needed in this area.

Laughter has also been linked with better skin health. “Laughing involves exercising 43 different muscles in the face, which gives you a brighter complexion,” advises Dr Kajal Babamiri, dermatologist specialist at CLNQ. “The increased blood flow can result in healthier skin and hair, and the endorphins released can produce collagen.”

Mental

Dr Babamiri continues, suggesting that “laughing can also reduce stress and anxiety, promote relaxation and improve mood”.

“I did 5 minutes of laughing yoga every morning to see if it would improve my mood”