of pain and loneliness decreased sig-
nificantly. They also felt happier and
more satisfied with life. Others have
demonstrated that laughter can be
associated with increased blood flow,
improved immune response, lower
blood sugar levels, and better sleep.
You don’t have to write a joke to reapthe benefits. Merely experiencing hu-
mor will do the trick.
But there might be an even stronger
reason that a sense of humor is hard-
wired into the human genome. Not
only does humor make us smarter
and healthier, but it may also make
us more attractive to the opposite sex.How to
Be Funnier
Are you humor-challenged?
Do the bons mots not trickle off
your tongue but clunk?
Experts share their tips on
strengthening your funny bone.By Andy SimmonsPhotograph by Miquel GonzalezReader’s Digest
62 september 2019