Have you ever been told that you were having “too much fun”? In today’s culture, stress is sometimes worn as a badge of success. People love talking about how busy and frenetic their lives are, and find it quite irritating if everyone else isn’t sweating and grunting along with them on life’s treadmill.

Dr. Northrup has a tried and true prescription for stepping away from your “spin-cycle” lifestyle, letting go of your stress, and bringing more pleasure into your life—laughter.

Sound too simple? It is! By adding more chuckles to your day, you could actually enhance your immune system, strengthen your heart, and lose weight!

“Have you ever watched any little kids? Aren’t they having fun? That’s because the average child laughs about 400 times a day,” Dr. Northrup says. “But here’s the startling second half of this equation: The average adult laughs only about 40 times a day.

“It’s not only possible, it’s essential to your health and well-being to create more pleasurable lives . . .lives that aren’t marred by the deadening effects of self-sacrifice and guilt.” And more and more studies are supporting Dr. Northrup’s remedy of laughter to enhance your health.

Scientific American.com cited a study by the University of Maryland that tested the blood flow in both men and women after they watched various video clips from both humorous and stress-inducing movies. Results showed that laughter had a positive impact on cardiovascular health by actually increasing blood flow in the body. According to the American Institute of Stress, laughter can lessen our pain and improve our immune systems. And the Washington Post reported recently that there are indications that laughter can even help us lose weight by lowering cortisol levels in our bodies, which can stimulate hunger when high.

If the average child laughs 400 times a day and the average adult laughs 40 times, where do you fit in? “I’m somewhere between the average child and the average adult, Dr. Northrup says, “which is why I am regularly accused of ‘having too much fun.’”

And what’s too much fun, according to Dr. Northup? “That’s anything irritating to the depressed person next to you!” she chuckles.

Dr. Northrup suggests that you take time to indulge in pleasurable activities and anything that makes you laugh. “And whether you’re watching a comedy film, drinking a cup of tea, sharing a romantic evening with your partner, playing with your children, or looking at a sunset—enjoy every moment. That’s how you’re going to increase laughter and pleasure maximally in your life.

“We are all capable of unending and ever-increasing pleasure. Live in this range and your body will feel so much better for it.”