6 Reasons to Smile

Why putting a grin on your face is good for you

From the Lifeminute.TV Team

June 14, 2021

You might not always feel like smiling, but the benefits of cracking one can enhance your health, appearance, and relationships. Here’s the scoop on smiling.

1. Smile stress away
Research has found that individuals who smiled while facing a stressful situation maintained a lower heart rate compared to those who had not smiled.

2. Smile to feel better
We’ve all heard "laughter is the best medicine," but the mantra is actually true. Smiling releases endorphins, the body’s feel-good chemicals, which can help improve mood and act as a pain reliever. Smiling can also help prevent illness by increasing your immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies.

3. Smile to be more likable
The U.S. National Library of Medicine found that people who smile are usually identified as being more likable compared to those who don’t smile. People who smile are also more likely to be approached and promoted in their jobs.

4. Smile to live longer
Research has found that living a happy and positive life, conducive to smiling, can add years to one's life. In fact, one study showed that genuine smiling is associated with living longer.

5. Smile to look younger
Not only can you live longer by smiling more, but you can also look younger doing it. A study on aging found that when people looked at photos of happy faces, they guessed the age of the person as younger compared to photos of the same person with a neutral or angry expression. The muscles we use to smile also lift the face resulting in a more youthful appearance.

6. Smile, it’s contagious!
That's not just a cute saying. It's scientifically proven that your smile has the power to make someone else smile because the brain often mimics other people's facial expressions. Now that you know its benefits, why don't you pay it forward and crack a smile?!