LAUGHTER IS GOODMEDICINE How Humor Can Help You Heal
The opposite is also true. If you’re feeling stressed and decide to do some breathing exercises or call up a friend you know who will make you laugh, both of these activities can help slow your breathing, heart rate, and the release of stress hormones. HUMOR AND HEALING Scientists studying this mind-body connection have found that laughter triggers the release of certain chemicals in the brain that are beneficial to your physical health. An article published in Alternative Theories in Health and Medicine showed that laughing releases chemicals in the body that improve heart health, boost your immune system, and make it more effective at fighting off infection. Humor can also increase energy and decrease stress. But here’s the clincher: It also helps you process your emotional experiences, which can improve mood and decrease both pain and stress.
April is National Humor Month, so if you need an excuse to indulge in your favorite standup comedian’s latest comedy special or catch up on a podcast that makes you laugh, consider this! You probably know from firsthand experience that a good laugh can boost your mood and that giggling regularly just makes you feel better overall. But there is also increasing evidence that humor can help you heal more quickly from injuries, help you experience less stress, and even strengthen your heart and immune system. THE MIND-BODY CONNECTION When you sustain an injury that starts causing you pain, your doctor or physical therapist will likely ask you to point to where it hurts after you tell them what caused the injury. This is a bodily process that involves knees, shoulders, backs, and more getting the attention. But the mind and body are closely related and work together to produce the sensation of pain. In fact, your body can also heal through the release of certain chemicals triggered in the brain. Stress is a great illustration of how the mind and body work together. When you ruminate on thoughts or feel worried and anxious, your muscles tense up, and your body releases hormones that increase your heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure. This demonstrates how something that begins in the mind ultimately has physical effects on the body.
Laughter really is a good medicine. And if you need additional help with your healing routine, be sure to give our team at Horizon PT a call.
Have a Laugh
Sheet Pan Chicken Dinner
Inspired by TheSpruceEats.com
You’ve probably heard of a one-pot meal, but how about a one-pan meal? This easy sheet pan dinner comes together in just 30 minutes without dirtying many dishes.
Ingredients
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2 tbsp canola oil 1 tbsp soy sauce 1 tbsp lemon juice
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2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch chunks 2 medium sweet potatoes, cut into 1-inch chunks
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1 tbsp honey
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1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp pepper
1 large head of broccoli, cut into florets
Directions
4. Remove pan from oven and use a spatula to flip the chicken and potatoes, then add broccoli florets. 5. Drizzle sauce evenly over top and return to the oven to bake for an additional 15 minutes or until chicken has an internal temperature of 165 F and vegetables are fork-tender.
1. Preheat oven to 425 F. 2. On a large baking sheet, combine chicken, sweet potatoes, salt, and pepper. Drizzle with oil and toss to coat. 3. Bake for 15 minutes. In the meantime, make the sauce by combining the soy sauce, lemon juice, honey, and cayenne pepper.
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