Abre el apetito, además de reducir el estrés y mejorar el funcionamiento del sistema inmune
Un equipo de investigadores estadounidenses ha constatado en un estudio reciente que la risa produce cambios en dos hormonas relacionadas con el apetito: la leptina y la grelina, y que aumenta el hambre de la misma forma que lo hace el ejercicio físico moderado. La presente investigación se une a un amplio conjunto de estudios que demuestran el poder de la risa para mejorar la salud humana, tanto física como mental. Por Yaiza Martínez. Investigadores de la Loma Linda University de Estados Unidos han descubierto que las carcajadas pueden provocar el mismo efecto en el organismo que el ejercicio repetitivo.
En un estudio de tres semanas de duración, led by specialist researcher at the university psychoneuroimmunology, Lee S. Berk, They were analyzed the effects of laughter on a total of 14 healthy volunteers.
As reported in the journal Eurekalert, en concreto, the effects of mirthful laughter and anguish in modulating hormones in the human body that are essential for controlling appetite examined.
During the experiment, each participant had to watch videos 20 minute, in which images appear randomly unsettling situations (anguish) or humorous. Whenever they saw a video, the volunteers had to wait an hour to see the next, opposite sign, in order that they pass the effects of the first display.
Videos and anxious mood
The researchers chose the first 20 minutes of the movie "Saving Private Ryan", set in the Second World War, as very distressing video, and got to choose the participants various options -of videos comedians or comedy mood- to ensure that they laughed as possible.
Throughout the study the scientists were measuring the blood pressure of participants and also taking blood samples from these, after each film. From these samples, established levels in the blood of two hormones related to appetite: la leptina y la grelina.
When scientists compared the levels of these hormones before and after viewing the videos, they discovered that volunteers who saw the movie Saving Private Ryan showed no statistically significant change in these levels, and during the 20 minutes later.
But, instead, levels of leptin and ghrelin in the blood of people who had seen the video humor, yes they had been modified: leptin level was reduced and ghrelin had increased, which it is the same effect that causes moderate physical exercise, often it has been associated with increased appetite.
Laughter as therapy
Según los científicos, these results suggest that laughter can cause changes in our body, which could be used to develop future treatments for people who can not do exercise but you have to increase your appetite.
Por ejemplo, It would be the case for many elderly patients who become depressed and, in combination with the lack of physical exercise, They stop hunger, which endangers their health and well-being.
A similar situation usually occurs between widowers, They are suffering from depression and loss of appetite after the loss of her partner, or in patients with chronic pain, who lose hunger as a result of chemical changes in the body then it causes continuous pain.
Although laughter resulting unimaginable for people with depression or chronic pain, the truth is that it is an accessible alternative as a starting point for the recovery of appetite and, por tanto, for the progressive recovery of health, explican los investigadores.
Positive effects throughout the body
Desde los años 80, Berk and his colleagues have dedicated themselves to analyze the role of laughter as a regulator of certain organic responses. According to the researcher says, the results of their research show that our everyday behaviors and emotions modulate the body in many ways.
These researchers were pioneers in establishing, por ejemplo, that laughter helps optimize the hormones of the endocrine system, even reducing levels of cortisone and epinephrine (stress-related hormones).
On the other hand, scientists have also shown that laughter has positive effects on the immune system regulation, because it increases the production of antibodies and activation of certain protective body cells, as lymphocytes or cytotoxic T lymphocytes responsible for cell and significant immunity to avoid tumor formation.
Last, studies of Beck and his colleagues have also shown that laughter or repetitive joyful laughter improves mood, reduces blood cholesterol levels and regulates blood pressure.
The first person to suggest that humor and laughter could benefit human health was Norman Cousins, a professor of medicine at the Medical Humanities for the School of Medicine of the University of California, Los Angeles, that he investigated the biochemistry of human emotions, and he developed a recovery program that included laughter and he experienced himself, Cousins since suffering an autoimmune disease.
En la actualidad, There is already a healing method based on laughter, the Risoterapia, which it is being used as a source of relaxation and rejuvenation, and treatment of stress and depression; as a method of weight loss and insomnia cure or cardiovascular problems and respiratory, inter alia.
Fuente:Tendencias21
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