That’s right: laugh! It really is the best medicine—for both our minds and our bodies. For one thing, a good sense of humor provides needed stress relief. When we laugh at our problems rather than fret over them, they can feel less serious and thus seem easier to solve. Humor also improves cognitive function by keeping the mind active and encouraging creative thinking—a vital defense against age-related impairments—and it provides an important emotional catharsis during periods of emotional tension. Laughing also benefits the heart, improves oxygen flow to the brain, lowers your blood pressure, and works the muscles in the head, neck, chest, and pelvis—in much the same way as the stress-reduction exercises of yoga. This helps keep muscles loose and limber and enables them to rest more easily. When you laugh, your body activates T cells, which help you fight off disease. So rent a funny movie, go to a comedy club, or watch a comedy show and laugh!