Psychology of a Smile 5 Ways a Smile Can Boost Your Health and Happiness
“We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do.” – Mother Teresa Believe it or not, a smile is far more than just a facial expression. It’s a valuable tool we can use to strengthen many areas of our lives. Here are just a few perks of grinning ear to ear. Improve Your Mood We often smile because we’re happy, but there’s evidence that we can also feel happy because we’re smiling. Research from universities in Wales, Germany, and the Netherlands found that individuals who were instructed to smile in certain studies reported higher levels of positivity than those forced to frown. Scientists suggest this is a neural feedback loop. When we start to smile,
our brain reacts as if we are already happy about something and triggers the necessary biological responses. Boost Your Immune System The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry reports smiling can add seven years to your life. This is likely due to the positive impact smiling has on our physical health. A study published in the journal Psychological Science found people who smile experience a lower heart rate and quicker stress recovery. Additionally, biochemist Sondra Barrett found smiling can “release tension on a cellular level,” enabling our cells to more easily combat stress-induced cell mutations. Share Some Positivity Smiling is infectious! Neuroscientist Marco Lacoboni researched mirror neurons, which are
cells in the brain that respond both when we want to perform an action and when we see someone else perform a certain action. As mentioned above, just the act of smiling makes us feel happier. When our smile encourages someone else to smile, we’re really spreading some happiness to others. Smiles are truly powerful. If you’ve ever felt embarrassed or insecure about your smile, it’s time to act! A+ Family Dentistry is offering smile makeover consultations. Talk to your dentist about what you don’t like about your smile and learn how easy it is to fix. Call 619‑831‑8832 (San Diego) or 858‑842‑5850 (Poway) now! The first five patients to call will receive their consultation for free. Don’t miss out!
Have a Laugh!
Avocado and Cucumber Cold Soup
Ingredients
• • • • •
1 lemon, juiced
• • • • •
Olive oil
½ cup cold water
2 medium ripe avocados, halved
1 clove garlic
1 large cucumber, halved
¾ teaspoon salt
6 stalks spring onions
½ teaspoon black pepper
1 jalapeno
Directions
4. Chop grilled veggies and puree with lemon juice, cold water, garlic, salt, and black pepper. 5. Once smooth, portion soup into bowls and refrigerate to cool before serving. 6. Garnish with toasted cubed bread, avocados, spring onions, chives, lemon zest, or a drizzle of olive oil, if desired.
1. Preheat grill to medium-high. 2. Coat halved avocados with lemon juice to avoid browning. Brush olive oil over avocados, cucumber, spring onions, and jalapeno. Oil grill while hot.
3. Grill vegetables until everything is
grilled or slightly charred. Once grilled, remove and place on platter to cool.
Recipe inspired by kirantarun.com.
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