Healthy Habits: Why Smiling is Good for You

According to Laurel House, the Quickie Chick and columnist on the weekly Fitness and Healthy Food channel on Yahoo! Shine, smiling makes you stand out while helping your body to function better. Smiling boosts health, stress levels and self-improvement and is a fun way to live a happy and healthier life.

House recently partnered with Topical BioMedics, makers of Topricin Pain Relief and Healing Cream, to share important reasons why smiling is good for us in the winter issue of Natural Healing, Natural Wellness. Along with House’s feature, the latest newsletter also offers a broad spectrum of articles that provide useful information, insights and inspiration for creating a happy and healthy new year. (Available for free download at www.topricin.com)

House shares her insight about the benefits of smiling:

1. Smiling Lifts Your Spirits
Even if you’re not feeling it...smile. The simple act of smiling, especially when you smile at someone else and they reflect that smile back at you, can trick your body and mind into thinking that you are actually happy.

2. Smiling is a Stress Reliever
When you smile you are physically releasing your jaw muscles, which tend to be tightened in times of stress. The jaw muscles attach to the neck muscles and, when tightened, can lead to headaches. You also look less stressed since you minimize those frown lines on your forehead. “I’ll take smile lines any day,” says House.

3. Smiling Boosts the Immune System
When you smile, your body naturally relaxes. When you are relaxed, your immune system is able to function optimally and can help fight off colds and flu.

4. Smiling Lowers Blood Pressure
When you relax your mind and your face by smiling, you actually lower your blood pressure. House recommends that you sit and enjoy the view, pet your pup, or do something that you enjoy…and smile for 5 minutes and you will notice a difference.

5. Smiling is a Natural Pain Killer
It’s been shown that smiling helps the body to naturally release endorphins and serotonin which work together to help us feel better and minimize the sensation of pain.

6. Smiling Makes You Look Younger
Smiling helps soften the lines and wrinkles on the forehead while adding youth to your eyes. Forget about getting a facelift and smile instead if you want to immediately shed years off your face.

7. Smiling Makes You Appear Confident & Successful
People who look confident and approachable are more likely to be promoted in business. So put on a smile at work – even (or especially) in a stressful meeting – and see how differently others respond to you.

House suggests you share the love.

“You really won’t be able to help yourself. Smiling is contagious and the world always looks brighter from behind a smile,” she adds.

Laurel House is a new contributing columnist to Natural Healing, Natural Wellness, a seasonal newsletter published by Topical BioMedics featuring insights from experts in various health fields. The newsletter is available free at www.topricin.com. Sign up to receive updates when a new issue of the newsletter is published.

Topricin is available in pharmacies, natural food stores and other fine retailers nationwide, including Whole Foods, Vitamin Shoppe, Vitamin World, Fred Meyer, Wegmans, and other retail stores throughout the U.S., as well as direct from the Topical BioMedics’ online store.