LAUGHTER IS THE BEST MEDICINE has long been a good bit of advice.  Now it's been discovered that not only does laughing do you good in a pyschological sense, but it also combats pain.  Having a bit of a giggle or a polite titter isn't enough. It needs to be genuine laughter, which raises levels of feel-good endophins in the body and increases pain tolerance.  Researchers have credited laughterwith being good for the heart, boosting circulation as much as exercise or cholesterol-lowering drugs, and an hour of laughter a day is said to burn off as many calories as 30 minutes of weight lifting.  Laughter also helps exercise facial muscles, keeping them supple and the skin glowing.  Studies found laughter to be physically very exhausting and anything that taxes the body physically triggers endophins as part of the normal pain control mechanism.  Even the anticipation of a belly laugh seems to be enough to lift our spirits and boost the immune system. Laughter really is the feel good factor. 

Here at The Social Group we have long believed that getting together for good times and good company, with shared experiences and lots of laughs together, is really good for people.  Having something to look forward to, like a night out or a holiday with The Social Group, really is the best medicine, helping avoid the blues.  Recent studies have found that the rush of endophins from laughing helps people bond with each other.  This explains why laughter and shared activities are such an important part of our social lives, and why a good social life and good company is so important for your general state of happiness and well being!