How humor helps your kids stay healthy.

Your kids got the giggles? Great! A recent study by Mayo Clinic indicates that laughter actually improves the immune system.

Good for the Body
According to the study, the positive thoughts associated with laughter release neuropeptides (chemicals found in the brain) that help fight stress and potentially more serious diseases.

Researchers at Loma Linda University in Southern California found that laughter stimulates the production of beta-endorphins, the body's natural painkillers, as well as human growth hormone, which helps tune up the immune system and regulate metabolism. And that's not all. Mayo Clinic identifies these additional benefits of laughter:

• It stimulates the heart, lungs and muscles and also increases the endorphins released by the brain.
• It relieves stress.
• It soothes tension and stomachaches.

"Research is confirming what has always made sense: When a child is happy, the immune system is active and health is supported," says author, psychotherapist and registered nurse Dorothea Hover-Kramer, Ed.D.(secondchancedream.com).

Good for the Soul
Laughter also nurtures the soul by promoting positive socialization and helping form strong emotional bonds. The report Laughing Is Good for You and Your Child from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration states that having a sense of humor is good for a child's mental and emotional well-being as well as the physical.

Here's how it works. Laughter...

• Triggers a point in the brain that helps a person feel pleasure.
• Aids communication and creates a sense of closeness between you and the people you're laughing with.
• Helps build emotional bonds.

Studies show that laughter also is key to positive parenting, helping families have fun and grow closer.

"Laughter is freeing and healing for people of all ages-in kids, it is their natural response to learning about their world," says Hover-Kramer. "Parents need to explore what brings fun to kids and build on healthy relationships where laughter and feeling good predominate."