Cooking with Arthritis

 There are many of us who believe that we have a strong sense of humor and love a good laugh. However, how many of us actually do that? Just let out a giggle or bellow a laugh straight from the very center of our soul? Well, I've seen children do it as they speed through the jungle gym playgrounds in the parks and perhaps a hint or two of laughter which runs through the halls of a high school. Yet, it seems as though the older we get, the less we indulge in this sacred art of happiness.

I remember my mother once saying that as soon as I lazily open up one eye in the morning, I should right away put a smile on my face and laugh. It just completely changes how you feel right from the very morning. And for any of us that have seen "The Secret" we know that our mind has the incredible power to draw to us that which we set forth through our very intentions.

Aside from having an amazing effect for the overall health, happiness and relationships, here are some more benefits of laughter which have been scientifically proven to be accurate (from a blogI have on my site):

Laughter aids breathing by disrupting your normal respiration pattern and in­creasing your breathing rate. It can even help clear mucus from your lungs. Laughter is also good for your heart. It in­creases circulation and improves the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to tissues throughout your body.

A good laugh helps your immune system fight off colds, flu and sinus problems by increas­ing the concentration of immunoglobulin A in your sa­liva. And it may help control pain by rais­ing the levels of certain brain chemicals (endorphins). Furthermore, it is a natural stress reliever.

But how can something like laughter help in the case of athritis? Here is an excerpt from an online article (Laughter a good medicine for athritis by Jeff Nesmith Cox News Service):

In a telephone interview, Becky Callicoatte recalled a pivotal event in her 30-year battle with rheumatoid arthritis.

"It was of those days when the pain was just terrible," she said, "and finally, I was so desperate that I said to my husband, `Why don't you just go ahead and put me in a nursing home.'"

He immediately replied, "I would if I could afford it."

She knew he was joking and the remark struck her as funny at the time. She noticed immediately that the pain eased with her laughter.

"After that, I started watching old television comedies and a friend of mine in Houston would mail me cartoons out of the newspaper to make me laugh," Callicoatte said. "Anything to just take my mind off of it."

But Dr. William Fry, an emeritus professor of psychiatry at Stanford University Medical School and a pioneer researcher in the physiology of humor and laughter, says Callicoatte may have been doing a lot more than taking her mind off of her pain.

"A lot of the pain you experience with arthritis has to do with muscle spasm," Fry said. "In response to pain in the connective tissue -- in ligaments, cartilage and so forth --surrounding muscles try to pull away from that pain, to get away from it."

This secondary level of pain is overlaid onto the initial arthritis pain, Fry said.

"Laughter is a spasmodic process," he said. "Muscles are contracting, relaxing, contracting, relaxing and so forth."

This tends to override other muscle spasms, Fry believes.

"When you are laughing, muscles that are not involved in the laughter activity usually go into a more flaccid state," he said.

The Searle-Arthritis Foundation program, entitled Taking Control of Arthritis Pain, is straightforward. There's nothing magic about the techniques being offered and participants are cautioned that the program is not intended to supplant their medical care.

However, they are told that pain often occurs in a cycle. People who hurt lose abilities and become depressed and stressed, which leads to more pain.

"Although pain is a physical symptom, you can actually use the power of your mind to help manage it," a workbook used during the "Taking Control" sessions states. Then it lists techniques such as distraction, controlled muscle relaxation and guided imagery in which the patient concentrates on positive memories or pleasant experiences.

The power of our mind and body is an incredible force.

So smile and let out a laugh and watch as your day brightens up

You are so very right !

Attitude is everything, and laughter, makes things lighter, for sure!  One thing about it, as we age, we tend to lose, our "giggles"!  My youngest sons, nickname, is giggles!  He laughes at everything!  He's so funny!  And you can't help but love being around him!  Its contageous!  Find laughter in something today, if not...YOURSELF...tee hee!

I think it is so cool that A good laugh helps your immune system fight off colds , wow ! good post angel 

What a cute nickname rickyracer giggles, that should be my name

Nicely put , So lets all read the captons and get a big laugh . Hey Angel. Nice to meet you .

Kudos laugh much it

it is good 4 the soul

nice post

good post I enjoyed reading this

very interesting good post I enjoy people who can laugh and have fun in spite their pain great great advise

Your Mother had taught you right

we could all use this advise laughter is great for all that ails

I have to tell you i have been laughing four days. the best i felt in years thank u fr sharing

very ice story i love possitive people

Very nice. I love the feeling I get from laughing. Welcome Angel

Thanks for sharing , I enjoyed reading this

Welcome Angel , we are happy to have you

What is the link to your site Angel