Did you know that the brain cannot tell the difference between a genuine and forced smile? Your noodle always perceives a smile, regardless of the kind, as a smile — something that does all sorts of amazing things to the said organ!
Without further ado, here are the things that will happen to your brain if you choose to put on a smile more often:
Filled with Endorphins
Perhaps you have read or heard somewhere that exercising increases the amount of endorphins in the brain, which in turn leaves you feeling happy. Well, the levels of endorphins in the brain can also actually be increased by smiling! In other words, smiling not only makes people around you happy, but you yourself as well!
Did you know that endorphins also help relieve pain? So if you are bothered by an achy shoulder or a throbbing stubbed toe, simply put on a smile to have the pain lessened — works just like painkillers but without side effects.
What’s more, endorphins are said to help boost a person’s self-esteem. Whenever you have doubts, flash a smile. Not only will it help increase your sense of worth, but also leave everyone seeing a confident you!
Flooded with Dopamine
Notice that doing anything positive makes you feel great inside? According to scientists, it’s all because of dopamine, which is a chemical that helps bring about a pleasurable feeling.
The production of dopamine is the body’s way of rewarding you each time you do a good deed, most especially something that is imperative for your own survival. Because of this, you will be prompted to carry out the same things again and again in the future.
So in other words, you can enjoy that pleasurable feeling simply by putting on a smile, something that is known to help in the synthesis of more dopamine in the brain. Oh, dopamine also boosts energy levels, alertness and even sex drive!
Packed with Serotonin
Experts say that smiling also helps increase the amount of serotonin in the brain. What’s so nice about the said chemical is it serves just like an all-natural antidepressant. This only means that you don’t have to pop side effect-laden pills in your mouth each time you want to lift your mood — smiling can make it happen as it boosts serotonin!
Serotonin also leaves you feeling happy and contented with life. So if the travel, fashion and gadget photos shared by celebrities and friends on social media kind of leave you wishing that you were them instead of yourself, smile!
By the way, serotonin is also a brain chemical that encourages relaxation. This only means that smiling at bedtime can help you get a good night’s sleep. Also, whenever you feel that a bout of anxiety is about to strike, smile rather than worry about it — such will make you feel relaxed, nipping that anxiety attack in the bud.
Filled with GABA
GABA stands for gamma amino butyric acid, and it’s actually one of the many amino acids which are the building blocks of protein. According to studies, something as simple as smiling may actually boost the brain’s GABA levels.
So what makes GABA important for your noodle? Well, just like serotonin, GABA is something that helps make you feel relaxed. That’s because it counteracts the neurons’ level of excitement, which can be caused by an assortment of chemicals in the body. In other words, GABA can keep you from feeling nervous or anxious.
What’s more, GABA is said to help lower stress levels. Everyone knows that leaving stress unmanaged is bad for the health. So for wellness, smile more often in order to keep high levels of stress in check!
Sources: rd.com
