“Laughter is No Joke on Global Belly Laugh Day”
January 23, 2022
When is the last time you laughed so hard that your stomach and facial muscles hurt? If it has been some time, maybe you can get in on the Global Belly Laugh Day which occurs annually on January 24th. Originally created by Elaine Helle in 2005, the purpose of Belly Laugh Day was to celebrate the great gift of laughter, just as we would celebrate love or giving thanks.
On this day, smiling and laughing are strongly encouraged and celebrated by throwing your arms in the air, smiling and laughing out loud. There is even a Belly Laugh Bounce around the world as people from Antarctica to Hawaii, no matter what they are doing, stop at 1:24 to have a laugh.
Maybe you’ve heard the phrase that laughter is the best medicine. Studies have proven that the slightest giggle to a big belly chuckle has more health benefits than simply improving our mood. In fact, laughter has been linked to health benefits similar to proper diet and exercise. Laughter can:
Lower stress levels
Boost our immune systems
Improve heart health
Stimulate our organs
Naturally decrease pain
Reduce blood pressure
Laughter does all of that and even BURNS CALORIES! Many research studies discovered that 10 to 15 minutes of heavy laughter can burn between 10 and 40 calories. The rate at which calories are burned depends on the individual’s body type as well as how deep and genuine the laugh was. For instance, a deep belly laugh would burn more calories than a light-hearted chuckle.
However, before you cancel your gym membership, consider that while genuine laughter can burn up to 40 calories in 15 minutes, it means you would have to laugh consistently for 22 hours in order to burn a single pound. In other, not so funny words, a person would need to laugh for about 7 hours and 15 minutes in order to burn off an average sized jelly filled donut. That’s some serious laughing!
God’s word also reminds us of the benefits and importance of laughter—
“A joyful heart is good medicine…” Proverbs 17:22
“A glad heart makes a cheerful face…” Proverbs 15:13
“1For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
4A time to weep, and a time to laugh;” Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4
Laughter is no joking matter! Why not get in on it, not just on Global Belly Laugh Day, but every day? After I finish reading the comics in the Sunday paper, I am going to tune into America’s Funniest Videos, burn some calories, and laugh all the way to the gym!