Nationwide — A smile is something everyone should be proud of as it can do so much. One smile can start a friendship, or ignite a deeper relationship. It can fix a problem; it can make you feel happier and others around you too. Studies show that just seeing someone else smile has a beneficial effect on your mental health, and when you smile yourself, it’s even better. Yet there are other reasons why smiling is good for you. Read on to find out what they are.
A smile does certain things to the body and the mind. It’s an amazing thing. It moves a specific set of muscles within the face and when these move, endorphins are released into the body. Endorphins are chemicals that essentially trigger a positive reaction within the body, making you feel happy. Endorphins also reduce stress levels, which is why smiling reduces stress in general.
What’s really interesting about this is that you can trick your body into releasing endorphins and improving your mood by smiling even when you don’t feel like it. It is simply the movement of the muscles that causes the reaction; however, the endorphins will make you feel good anyway, so a big, bright smile will always help no matter how you are feeling.
Better for Your Heart
Endorphins do so much to help you and your body. Another benefit is that they increase your blood flow, and this in turn, lowers your blood pressure. When you have lower blood pressure, you are at much less risk for heart disease or other heart complaints.
Smiling really can make you healthier, so it’s a good idea to practice each day, even when you’re not feeling completely positive. It can make a big difference to your life.
It Boosts the Immune System
Having an immune system that functions correctly is essential. It means that you won’t be susceptible to bugs and illnesses that are in the air, and it means that you can heal more quickly if you do catch something.
When you smile, not only will you release endorphins into the body, but you will release serotonin too. Serotonin is a hormone that works on the immune system, making it stronger. As an additional benefit, serotonin is called the ‘happy hormone’ for good reason; it boosts the mood too.
Good Communication
No matter what you might be doing in your life, whether it’s work, hanging out with friends, meeting strangers through traveling, or anything else, a smile can communicate the world for you. It lets people know you are happy and it helps them know that they can talk to you and expect a positive response.
Even if you are shy and don’t feel as though you can talk to strangers, a smile will help to break the ice and reduce tension, allowing communication to happen more easily.
No matter where you go in the world, the smile is universal and you will never be misunderstood. Smiling shows that you are trustworthy and approachable and gives off an air of general positivity. This actually makes you appear more attractive, so if you are looking for a date, smiling can only help.