Which Burns More Calories: Laughing or Crying?
Emotions are a powerful part of being human, and we’ve all experienced moments of uncontrollable laughter or heartfelt tears. But have you ever wondered if these emotional outbursts do more than just express how we feel? Could they actually burn calories? In this article, we’ll explore whether laughing or crying burns more calories, drawing on scientific insights and practical knowledge to provide a clear, trustworthy answer.
The Science Behind Laughing and Calorie Burn
Laughter is often called the best medicine, and for good reason. When you laugh, your body engages multiple muscle groups, including your diaphragm, abdominal muscles, and even your facial muscles. This physical activity requires energy, which translates to calorie expenditure. According to a study conducted by Vanderbilt University, hearty laughter can increase your heart rate and oxygen consumption, similar to light exercise. On average, 10 to 15 minutes of genuine laughter can burn between 10 and 40 calories, depending on the intensity and your body weight.
The calorie burn from laughing comes from the involuntary muscle contractions and increased respiratory rate. For example, a person weighing around 150 pounds might burn approximately 1 to 2 calories per minute during a good chuckle. While this may not sound like much, frequent laughter throughout the day can add up, contributing to overall energy expenditure in a small but meaningful way.
How Crying Affects Your Body
Crying, on the other hand, is a different kind of emotional release. It’s often associated with sadness or stress relief, but it also involves physical processes that burn calories. When you cry, your body engages muscles in your face, chest, and shoulders, and your breathing pattern changes, often becoming more rapid or irregular. These actions require energy, though the intensity is generally lower than that of laughter.
While there’s less research specifically on crying and calorie burn, experts estimate that crying burns roughly 1 to 1.3 calories per minute, depending on the intensity and duration. For someone weighing 150 pounds, a 10-minute crying session might burn around 10 to 13 calories. The calorie burn is modest because crying tends to be less physically demanding than laughter, which often involves more vigorous muscle movement.
Laughing vs. Crying: A Caloric Comparison
When comparing the two, laughter generally burns more calories than crying. The higher muscle engagement and increased heart rate during laughter give it a slight edge. For instance, a 150-pound person laughing heartily for 10 minutes might burn up to 20 calories, while the same duration of crying might burn closer to 10–13 calories. However, the exact numbers depend on factors like the intensity of the emotion, your body weight, and even your metabolism.
It’s worth noting that neither laughing nor crying is a substitute for traditional exercise. While both activities contribute to calorie burn, their impact is minimal compared to activities like walking, running, or strength training. However, the benefits of laughter and crying extend beyond calories. Laughter can reduce stress hormones and boost mood, while crying can provide emotional release and help regulate stress, both of which support overall well-being.
Why Emotional Health Matters
While laughter may have a slight caloric advantage, both laughing and crying play important roles in emotional health. Regular laughter can improve cardiovascular health and strengthen social bonds, while crying can help process emotions and promote mental clarity. From a calorie-burning perspective, incorporating more laughter into your day—through watching a funny movie, sharing jokes with friends, or attending a comedy show—might give you a small metabolic boost while enhancing your mood.
In conclusion, laughter burns slightly more calories than crying due to its higher physical intensity. However, both are valuable for emotional and physical health, offering benefits that go far beyond calorie counts. So, the next time you’re laughing until your sides hurt or shedding a few tears, know that your body is doing a little work while your emotions find their balance.