Why Is Laughter Contagious?

Have you ever wondered why laughter is so contagious? When one person laughs, it usually causes the next person to laugh, and so on and so forth. As the expression goes, "laugh and the whole world laughs with you!" Studies have shown that laughter is a bonding mechanism among people that dates as far back as early human existence, even before there was spoken language. The relationship between the brain and laughter is still not fully understood, but researchers do know that laughter seems to be produced via a circuit that runs through many regions of the brain. Thus, damaging any one of these regions can impair one's sense of humor.  When people hear laughing, the part of the brain known as the premotor cortical region is activated, which is the part of the brain that causes our facial muscles to react to sounds, and we being to smile. As the brains of many people can be stimulated this way at once, it fosters bonding. We are more likely as a species to bond in response to positive sounds rather than negative sounds. In fact, our brain's reaction to negative sounds like screeching is much lower than its reaction to positive sounds like laughter, so there is a much higher likelihood of bonding with another person over positive sounds like laughter. Before we had speech, laughter was a way to show another group or tribe that you meant no harm and wanted to be friends. It was and still is a very important social tool that builds bonds between people. In fact, one of the traits rated to be most attractive by women is a man that makes her laugh. Watch my latest video below to learn more about the power of laughter and how you can use laughter as a therapy to bring about positive changes in your life and health. It's pretty remarkable and it's available to everyone!

-Linda YouTips4U

 

Menopause and Perimenopause | Signs and Symptoms | My Experience | Natural Remedies | My Thoughts on HRT

I recently shared my experience with menopause and perimenopause in a video on my YouTube Channel (see video above) because I truly believe this subject needs to be addressed and embraced as part of life woman to woman.  For generations it has been a taboo, hush hush, subject of little discussion, which leaves women in the dark and isolated about their own body and feelings. I began to notice this as a young woman growing up as well when I asked my mom what was the matter when she sat crying one day. She said it was nothing, but later on, my father whispered in my ear that she was going through "The Change."  I thought, what change?  I had no idea, but I got the feeling from my mom that I shouldn't ask either.  Women get very uncomfortable talking this subject and often shy away from discussing it, so it's extremely difficult to find out information on it. I think sharing information is vital regarding this prominent life change, which is a complete metamorphosis for a woman.  I often hear other women on YouTube say, talk to your doctor if you want advice on menopause. But why? Why don't they talk about it? They mentioned it to begin with. Why does a doctor know more about the natural process of a woman's body than a woman herself. Does a doctor even know? Why can't we discuss this process with other women? Why is it so hard to find out anything about menopause and perimenopause? Why the hush hush culture on this? I suspect much of it has to do with the stigma of growing older, and in a youth-based society that means menopause takes a back seat, way back.  Why does it have to be associated with aging and broken bones?? There are positives that no one seems to focus on and I think they should be brought to light in the media and magazines. If that were the case, women would be excited for it. I address some of the positives in my video. The lack of information discussed on this topic can have a detrimental effect on a woman's life leaving her feeling isolated and withdrawn, depressed. Many women go through menopause in their thirties and it's like a truck hit them because they had no idea this could even happen! How could they, no one talks about it! Well I want to help change this culture of silence and bring this topic into the light and foreground to help women cope and deal with these changes. Our society boasts women empowerment, yet menopause, perimenopause, and post menopause are in the shadows. Why? Help me bring it into the light by sharing my video with others.

I did much reading into this subject as I found myself entering into this stage of my life myself, mostly because my doctor was not very helpful on this subject. Aside from being offered hormone replacement therapy, there was nothing more that was told to me about signs, symptoms, or emotional challenges or anything else. And for emotional support my doctor's suggestion is anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medications, and I found this to be true for other women too.  This is their answer. Medicate! So I took it upon myself to do what I always do and that is, research this myself because this should not be the only option for a woman who is searching for relief of menopausal or peri-menopausal symptoms, or even post menopausal symptoms.  Why do we need medications for a normal process? Did we take medications to get through puberty?  It's simple really, we need a natural solution for a natural issue. There is so much we can do to help ourselves naturally, and the earlier we have an understanding of what to expect in this time of life, the better. I covered these subjects and many more in my latest video, so if you are interested in learning about the signs and symptoms of menopause, the natural remedies available to you for support and relief, as well as my experience as a woman and what worked for me, then please watch my above video and share it because it will give you some good information and food for thought and you will gain so much knowledge into what it means to be a woman.

-Linda
YouTips4U

Tips for Coping with Stress, Especially During the Holidays

With the holiday season just around the corner, I think it's a great time to give you some tips for helping you cope with stress which is often exacerbated during the holidays. Remember to keep things in perspective and try not to get too caught up in the hustle and bustle of gift giving and parties that you lose the big picture which is spending time with the ones you love and doing simple things like watching Christmas stories and baking cookies.

When stress lasts too long, it can have an exhausting effect on our bodies, often leading to illness or flu because we let ourselves get run down. So what can we do so that we can handle life's stresses easier? Well, the secret is to play a little offense. Here are some tips to help arm you against stress:

1. Maintain a balanced diet. Many times we are running around trying to make it all work in a day that we forget to eat, or we grab empty calories here and there. Prepare some healthy meals ahead of time and keep them in the fridge so it's available for you to either take along with you, or to whip up quick when you get home by simply reheating it in the microwave.

2. Drink enough fluids. Migraines, urinary tract infections, and various colds can all spring up when we are under stress and dehydrated which often happens while shopping and working late hours. So keep a water bottle with you in the mall and on your desk at work so you can stay hydrated throughout the day.

3. Don't keep your home too warm. Excessive heat dries out your nasal passages and mucus membranes which can lead to coughs and colds. So put on a warm sweater and keep the heat low.

4. Stop what you are doing periodically and just inhale deeply, paying close attention to your breathing and the movement and feel of air in and out of of your nose. Do this little meditation for a few minutes several times a day. It will help calm you and relieve stress. Great when your in traffic too!

5. Exercise! Do not let that fall by the wayside. This is the most important time to exercise. It will help relieve stress and give you more energy to complete all the holiday tasks that seem to pile up out of no where.

6. Go outside each day; even if it's only for 10 minutes. Get outside and walk. Taking in fresh air and getting out of your home or office will help give you perspective and refresh you. Sunshine is also a wonderful mood booster.

7. Have a little chocolate, or pasta. Chocolate, especially dark chocolate is rich in antioxidants which are very healthy for fighting disease, and it's a wonderful serotonin booster for your brain as is pasta (preferably whole grain). So if you need an instant boost, grab a bit of dark chocolate and a handful of nuts, or have a little bowl of pasta with some garlic, basil and olive oil. It's a great snack and mood booster.

8. Spend some time with your pet. A little extra time playing with your dog will go a long way toward destressing and can boost serotonin levels in the brain. Don't have a pet, ask a neighbor or friend if you can walk their dog or offer to stop by when they are out to visit their kitty. Many studies have shown pets can be very therapeutic and wonderful companions.

9. Be sure to get enough sleep. Sleep deprivation can pile up leaving you feeling cranky, emotional, short tempered and negative. Try to get at least 7-8 hours of sleep each night. If you can't get that much, try to catch up on the weekend with an early night to bed or try to get in a few naps. Even just closing your eyes for 20 minutes while you lie on the couch can do wonders.

10. Limit your intake of alcohol. Very often during the holidays, drinking alcohol can get a bit out of hand. One too many parties can leave you feeling bloated and hungover. Slow down your drinking by sipping it slower and having a seltzer or glass of water in between alcoholic drinks. You will stay hydrated and you won't get drunk because you give your body time to process the alcohol. Set a limit on how many drinks you will have and stick to it. You will avoid slowing down your metabolism and gaining weight. Alcohol is a real diet buster!

11. Finally, at the end of each day I want you to write down 3 things that you were happy about that you did for that day. This is a great way to stay positive and in control of your life. Positive affirmation can be a wonderful mood booster and stress minimizer by focusing your attention on something you did right. We always tend to fret and focus on what we didn't accomplish in a day or what went wrong. This little exercise will focus you on something that you did that was positive and made you happy.

Well, there you have it. That's quite a lot of tips, but stress is a big problem so I want you to be armed! Read this list over frequently during the next few months and I have every confidence that you will find things that will help keep you happier, healthier, and dealing with a little less stress :o) I want to help you enjoy the holidays; not dread them,

Keep Smiling,
-YouTips4U