Because We All Need a Reason and Reminder
To SMILE that is! :) This week, let’s put the spotlight on mental health—a crucial factor for a happy, healthy lifestyle.
Now we all have days every so often when we don’t feel very positive (for me Monday was an example)…but keeping a generally optimistic and favorable attitude can be a big health boon. Two new studies explore the causes and effects of chuckles and cheerfulness!
You’ll live longer if you flex those smiling muscles, Wayne State University scientists have found. Smiling, an outward reflection of internal good vibes, is linked to good physical and mental health. And bigger smiles are more evident on the faces of those who are truly happy (so ditch the smize!)
After studying the facial expressions of professional baseball players pre-1950, the researchers compared these emotional displays to longevity, taking into account body mass index and career-related factors that may have affected results.
And the findings? Those who were found to beam lived on average seven years longer than their non-grinning comrades. While the study was quite small and limited, it just adds another reason to top off your fashionable look with a sparkly smile!
(Image from Scott’s Mind)
So go brighten up the room by donning a smile!
Be Happy, Be Healthy (Not just for the Honey Nut Cheerios ads!)
Great news: where your brain goes, your body follows! Thinking positively about your future may be a self-fulfilling prophecy when it comes to good health. New research published in Psychological Science found that individual immune responses are linked to optimism levels. The more positive attitude, the better the body defends against harmful invaders. Upbeat moods, then, are linked with quicker healing times if you do get ill and potentially better immunity towards diseases!
The scientists gave questionnaires to law students that tracked their feelings on an optimism/pessimism spectrum, then triggered an immune response (a skin bump akin to an allergy test) to test the body’s reaction. Students who were living on the bright side had larger immune responses—signaling potentially better protection from infections.
Placing a positive spin on things can be good for your body and your mind! (And as they say, you can always fake it ‘til you make it, right?)
(Image from Photo Bucket)
Ahh…the beach! Sure to put a smile on my face :)
What immediately puts you in a positive mood?
Water cooler conversation starter: Don’t get cheeky with Polish feminists…they may take you to court! A workplace’s new breast self-exam campaign has one hospital under fire for being sexist. The campaign’s slogan? “I check the breasts of my workers on my own.” Opponents claim that this suggests workplace groping, while those who came up with the idea insist creativity was only at play.
Would you rather a health promotion tactic to push the limits to grab attention or stay safe and uncontroversial to avoid ruffling feathers?
