7 Health Benefits of Crying
Crying is a natural response to emotions and can benefit your mental and physical health. While some people may feel embarrassed or ashamed of crying, the truth is that it can be incredibly helpful in managing stress and improving your overall well-being.
Generally, crying is a way to express your feelings and work through difficult emotions like sadness, anger, or grief. It serves as an emotional release that can help you process your feelings and move forward healthily.
Health benefits of crying
1. Crying has a soothing effect
When you cry, your bodies release endorphins and oxytocin, which help you to relax and reduce stress levels. This calming effect can help you to cope with difficult situations and manage your emotions more effectively.
2. Crying may ease pain
Studies have shown that crying can actually relieve physical pain by releasing endorphins that act as natural painkillers.
3. Crying may help clean your eyes
Because tears are composed of water, other electrolytes, and oils, they help to keep your eyes clean and lubricated. This helps to flush out any irritants like dirt, dust, or pollen that can cause discomfort or even infection.
4. Crying enhances mood
Tears contain hormones such as prolactin which are known to improve mood. That’s why you often feel better after crying. Moreover, because of the stress-relieving benefits of crying, it can also help to improve your overall mood and reduce feelings of depression or sadness.
5. May strengthen your immune system
According to medical research, shedding tears may help to boost your immune system by releasing proteins called cytokines which can protect you from infection and disease.
6. Crying can reduce stress
As I mentioned earlier, tears contain hormones that help reduce stress and boost your mood. This can be beneficial for your mental and physical health, as stress has been linked to numerous illnesses and chronic conditions.
7. Crying may protect your eyes against bacteria
Believe it or not, crying may also help to protect your eyes from infection as the tears contain natural antibodies that help to kill bacteria. Experts believe that the antibacterial activity of tears is due to the lysozyme enzyme, which has antibacterial properties.
Short Summary
The benefits of crying are often overlooked, but it is a natural and important part of our emotional well-being. Crying can help to reduce stress levels, boost your mood, protect your eyes from infection, strengthen your immune system, and much more. So don’t be ashamed of shedding a few tears – it could actually be doing you some good!
Further Reading: What Happens to Your Body When You Hold Back Your Tears
