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Does Happiness Affect Our Health? 10 Benefits Of Being Happy

Happiness and HealthHappiness is a wonderful feeling! Whether you associate it with optimism, joy, wellbeing, or personal achievement – or perhaps all of these – it naturally goes hand-in-hand with healthier habits. People who are in good spirits tend to eat better, move more, and sleep more soundly than those who are not. In turn, these healthy habits activate the hormones and neurotransmitters that influence our happiness.

When our mood is low, we’re more likely to skip exercise, indulge in emotional eating, and struggle with sleep.

This International Day of Happiness 2025, we embrace the theme “Caring and Sharing” – a powerful reminder that spreading joy, kindness, and connection not only uplifts others, but also has a profound impact on our own health and wellbeing.

Let’s explore the fascinating ways that happiness can boost your health – and why sharing a smile could make all the difference.

10 Health Benefits Of Being Happy

 1. Smile, Even If You Don’t Feel Like It
Science suggests that when we smile, whether we’re feeling happy or not, our mood improves. Smiling stretches the muscles in our face, triggering the brain to release “happy hormones” that make us feel good and reduce stress. Your smile not only brightens someone else’s day – it lifts your own spirits too.

2. Laughter is Truly the Best Medicine
Laughter helps you exhale more air and inhale more oxygen, purifying the blood and leaving you refreshed and relaxed. It boosts circulation, relieves tension, and even reduces pain. No wonder laughter clubs exist in parks all over the world – people are choosing joy for their health!

3. The Power of Happy Hormones

Our thoughts and emotions translate into chemicals in the body – either promoting healing or contributing to ill health. Let’s meet the “happy hormones”:

  • Endorphins: Natural painkillers – they allow us to push through challenges.
  • Serotonin: Enhances mood, social connection, and emotional stability.
  • Dopamine: Keeps us motivated, focused, and rewarded.
  • Oxytocin: The “love hormone,” strengthening bonds and trust.
  • Estrogen & Progesterone: Help regulate mood, anxiety, and sleep.

4. Stronger Immune System

There’s a link between happiness and stronger immunity. Studies show that happier people respond better to vaccines and have more robust immune responses, protecting them from infections. Chronic stress, on the other hand, weakens our immune defences.

5. A Happier Heart

Happiness is linked to lower heart rate and blood pressure, as well as better heart rate variability (a marker of heart health). Happy people are less prone to coronary heart disease – it’s that simple.

6. Healthier Blood

Happy individuals have lower levels of fibrinogen, a blood protein that causes clotting. High fibrinogen levels increase the risk of heart attacks – keeping stress low and mood high helps maintain healthy circulation.

7. Reduced Aches and Pains

Happiness seems to ease physical discomfort. When we’re in a good mood, our bodies release endorphins that naturally block pain. Chronic conditions like arthritis or muscle tension often feel less severe when we’re happy.

8. Lower Stress Levels

Happiness can help temper the harmful effects of stress. Happier people recover faster from stressful events and have lower levels of cortisol, the stress hormone linked to high blood pressure and Type 2 diabetes.

9. Even Our Genes Respond to Joy

Remarkably, happiness can influence gene expression. People who report greater wellbeing show lower levels of inflammatory gene activity and stronger antiviral responses. Love and happiness activate “growth genes”, promoting healing and resilience.

10. Live Longer, Live Better

Happiness is linked to longevity. Happier people are less likely to experience frailty, mobility issues, or early death. Staying upbeat can keep inflammation in check and help fend off disease.

Mother Teresa, who spent decades caring for the sick and dying, lived until the age of 87 – a testament to how compassion, purpose, and happiness can support lasting health.

Happiness is more than a fleeting emotion – it’s a state of being that nourishes your body, mind, and spirit. And the best part? It grows stronger the more you share it.

This International Day of Happiness, let’s make a conscious effort to care for ourselves and others – through kind words, acts of compassion, and positive connection. When we choose happiness, we create ripples of wellness that touch everyone around us.

💬 How do you practise happiness and share it with others? Let us know in the comments!

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What is Bloating?

BloatingThere is a lot of confusion around ‘bloating’, a common problem that we come across in our day to day life. In fact, we are witnessing a virtual epidemic of bloating in current times. Abdominal bloating not only looks bad but also causes a lot of discomfort.

But it’s not the end of the road. The good news is that it is one of the conditions that can be avoided. However, before learning how to prevent it, we need to first understand the most common causes of bloating.

Common Causes of Bloating

  1. Constipation
    Too little fibre, fluids, and physical activity may lead to constipation, which can result in bloating.
  2. Eating too fast
    Eating quickly and not chewing your food well can cause air swallowing, which leads to bloating.
  3. Drinking too much carbonated beverages
    The fizz in carbonated drinks (even diet ones) can cause gas to get trapped in your belly.
  4. Too much consumption of sugar-free beverages
    Too much sugar alcohol in artificially sweetened foods and drinks can lead to bloating.
  5. Food allergies and Intolerance
    Food allergies and intolerance can cause gas and bloating. However, these need to be confirmed by your doctor.
  6. Medical conditions
    Conditions like lactose intolerance, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Giardiasis (parasite infection), colon cancer, and bacterial overgrowth can also cause bloating.

Simple ways to avoid bloating:

  • Chew your food thoroughly
    Chewing breaks the food down from large particles into smaller particles that are more easily digested. This makes it easier for the intestines to absorb nutrients and prevents improperly digested food from entering your blood, which can cause bloating.
  • Exercise regularly
    Physical activity helps air bubbles pass through your digestive tract more quickly, so the bloated feeling disappears faster.
  • Avoid too much water during meals
    Too many liquids during meals can dilute digestive juices, which may hamper the digestion process. A small amount of liquids aids digestion, so moderation is key.
  • Avoid drinking using straws and narrow mouth bottles
    These can lead to the ingestion of excess air while sucking, which may cause bloating.
  • Avoiding carbonated beverages
    When carbonated drinks are opened, the compressed carbon dioxide forms bubbles and escapes into the air. Drinking large amounts forces the gas into your stomach, where it may pass to your intestines, causing bloating.
  • Eliminate smoking and Hukka
    People who smoke or use Hukka inhale a lot of extra air, which can lead to bloating.
  • Avoid chewing gums and food with artificial sweeteners
    Artificial sweeteners are difficult to digest and may cause bloating if consumed in excess.
  • Avoid gassy vegetables
    Vegetables like beans, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, onions, radishes, melons, and broccoli can cause gas during digestion.
  • Avoid foods with air whipped into them
    Foods like soufflés, sponge cakes, and milkshakes can introduce excess air into your stomach.
  • Avoid long gaps between meals
    Long gaps between meals can disrupt digestion and lead to bloating.
  • Limit sodium intake
    Processed foods are high in sodium, which can cause water retention and bloating.
  • Monitor fiber intake
    While fiber is essential, excess fiber can cause gas as gut bacteria break it down, leading to bloating.
  • Avoid milk if you’re lactose intolerant
    If your body doesn’t produce enough lactase, the enzyme needed to break down lactose, dairy can cause bloating.
  • Include Probiotics in your diet
    Probiotics contain good bacteria that aid digestion and help reduce bloating.

Yoga and Exercises to Reduce Bloating

Certain yoga poses and exercises can help relieve bloating by stimulating digestion and releasing trapped gas. Try these:

  • Leg Seated Spinal Twist

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  • Apanasan (Wind-relieving pose)

  • Spinal Twist

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  • Paschimottanasana (Seated forward bend)

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  • Seated Heart Opener

  • Adho Mukha Savanasana (Downward-Facing dog)

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Bloating is a common issue with various underlying causes. By understanding these causes and implementing simple lifestyle changes, you can reduce bloating and improve your digestive health. Remember, a healthy and comfortable digestive system is within your reach!

Bloating can be uncomfortable, but it doesn’t have to control your life. Try these tips and let us know what works for you in the comments below! For more articles on digestive health and wellness, explore Healthy Reads or speak to a certified expert by subscribing to GOQii’s Personalised Health Coaching here.

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12 Steps To Choose the Right Gym For You

12 Steps to Choose The Right Gym For YouWith 2 weeks in to the new year, it is a good time to gauge how many of us are actually sticking to our New Year’s Resolution of being fit and are regularly visiting the gym. Most people who invest in a gym membership at the start of the year as a part of their resolution are often irregular towards the end of January due to lack of motivation or due to certain issues they may have with the gym and the environment there.

So how do you stay motivated? How do you ensure that you won’t quit the gym by August this year? To ensure that you stick to your gym and achieve your goals, we’ve got some pointers that will help you choose the right gym. But before that, you need to ask yourself one question – Do you really need a gym? Given your work schedule, your habits and your goals, does signing up for a gym membership make sense? If you can achieve your goals working out at home, while maintaining your work-life balance, do you really need a gym? If the answer is yes, then read on!

12 Steps To Choose the Right Gym For You

  1. List Your Must-Haves: Before hunting for a gym that suits your taste, you must know what you’re looking for. You need to make a list of your goals, the kind of equipment you need, the services to best aid you in achieving your health goals, the atmosphere and type of gym you are looking for. Having this list handy makes it easier for you to choose a gym you are most likely to be regular at.
  2. Location: This is of prime importance. Before or after a hectic day at work, would you really brave the erratic traffic in your city to reach a gym that is miles away from your home? Your best bet is to choose a decent gym that’s close by and easily accessible, especially if you’re the kind of person who likes to workout after your shift.
  3. Cost: Let’s face it! Irrespective of which gym you like, Cost is the ultimate factor that will decide where you workout. When it comes to cost, you need to ask yourself if the gym membership is worth it. Are you getting additional services with your gym membership? Are you getting services you don’t want? Does your gym membership cover privileges like massages, sauna, a pool, a daycare for your child while you workout or a snack bar? Will you be charged separately for these services or are they included in your deal? Whatever the cost, ensure that you get your money’s worth.
  4. Hours of Operation: There is nothing better than a gym that is flexible with its timings. If you find a gym that is open 24 hours, there’s nothing like it. You might also want to inquire if they are open during public holidays and about the days when the gym will be closed. It’s best to pick a gym that is open most days of the year.
  5. Visit During Peak Hours: No one likes a crowded gym. So before you choose one, take a tour of the gym but not on a weekend or when the gym is relatively empty. Take a tour during the hours you’re more likely to go once you join. This will give you a good insight into the kind of crowd that’s at the gym and how crowded it is during your preferred time. If the line to use an equipment is 5 people long, make a beeline for the exit and head over to your next option.
  6. Personal Trainer: This is another major deciding factor. A Personal Trainer can be a good guide in helping you achieve your fitness goals the right way. A few things you need to look into before you sign up is if your gym membership covers a personal trainer or if you’ll have to pay for one. The qualification of the personal trainers at your gym is also of prime importance. If you must go for a personal trainer, go for someone with an advanced certification/degree and someone who is in line with your goal.
  7. Cleanliness and Hygiene: It’s no secret that gyms are essentially breeding grounds for sweat, bacteria and germs. While somethings can’t be helped, you need to ensure that the gym you sign up for is regularly maintained with hygiene checks, have clean equipment, washrooms and changing rooms. An unclean environment is very off-putting and may prevent you from visiting the gym as frequently as you would have otherwise.
  8. Check Equipment: The first thing you should do when you’re taking a tour of a gym is to check the equipment. This check is essential to know if the gym has all the equipment you need and if they are in good shape. You won’t get anywhere with shoddy equipment. Also check for the make. A manufacturer that may produce excellent treadmills may not be ideal for rowing machines. Always go for a fine mix that exudes quality! The best gyms often have equipment from different manufacturers.
  9. Culture: Observing gym culture is a pivotal step in deciding whether or not the gym is for you! Do you prefer working out in the presence of the opposite sex? Does the intimidating presence of muscle-heads and heavy lifters bother you? Are you okay with loud, upbeat trance or do you prefer rock? All these questions need to be answered because if you are not comfortable or don’t like the atmosphere in the gym, you are less motivated to visit it regularly. Remember that comfort is of the utmost importance as it will ensure you renew your membership at the end of the year (if you make it :D).
  10. Does the Gym Meet Your Target?: It’s all about the goals! Does the gym have the right equipment, the right trainers, the right facilities and specialization to meet the goals you’ve set for yourself? If you want to lose weight, it makes more sense to choose a gym that specializes in weight loss. If you want to bulk up, go for a gym that specializes in bodybuilding. Don’t join a gym that doesn’t cater to your needs.
  11. Look For Reviews: Sometimes, an advertisement or a single tour cannot give you all the information you need. Take to social media, read reviews and form your opinion. The gym’s social media profile will give you an idea about the gym culture, while multiple reviews can give you a good idea about how the gym ranks in terms of quality and whether or not it meets your standards.
  12. Take a Trial: When all else fails, a little personal touch, like a week-long trial can help you know for sure if this gym is the one! A trial will help you gauge the equipment, the culture and all the other essentials that will become a part of your final decision. It will also help you understand if you’re getting your money’s worth.

In conclusion, choosing a gym is like picking a partner, you need to think it through to ensure that you don’t quit half way and are motivated to such an extent that you continue your membership and workout for a fit and healthy life! If a gym does not work for you, consider working out online, in a live and interactive session with our fitness experts on GOQii Pro. Book a class via the GOQii App now! To read more about fitness and workouts, check out Healthy Reads.

Did we miss out on any key points that you think are essential? Let us know in the comments below!

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5 Hacks To Help You Achieve Your Goals

Hacks to achieve your goalsDespite knowing the importance of persistence, most people have trouble focusing single-mindedly and putting in efforts consistently in the area that they want to succeed in. Our good intentions or brilliant ideas don’t see the light of day, because of some of the habits we possess that seem insignificant and mundane.

More often than not, we find ourselves doing not what we wish to do but what we are accustomed to doing. For example, I had been thinking for months that I must wake up earlier by an hour each morning. Easy enough, right? But each night, I would find myself spending time on trivial things that I had not planned to do, like reading random articles, or surfing through emails or reflecting about some things that may have happened during the day.

These unplanned non-events led to late nights and consequently each morning I woke up no earlier than usual. Some of you may relate to this situation. Just replace ‘want to wake up early’ with ‘want to go for a walk’, ‘want to read every night’, ‘want to eat healthy’, ‘want to meditate’, ‘want to spend more time with my team’, ‘want to get to the office before time’, ‘want to learn a new skill’… by now you get the drift.

Perseverance is a trait that people with high emotional intelligence possess. As Daniel Goleman says in his book ‘Emotional Intelligence’ – “Studies of Olympic athletes, world-class musicians and Chess grand masters find their unifying trait is the ability to motivate themselves to pursue relentless training routine”. One would think that these people are wired differently. But they are not. Perseverance is not something that you either have or you don’t, it’s something that can be developed. Following are 5 simple yet highly effective ways to build perseverance and pave your path to success:

1. Start Small & Take Breaks

‘Many drops make an ocean’ is definitely something to think about. If we straight away start thinking about all the effort and resources that would be required to achieve something, the thought could promptly dissuade our minds from giving it a try, hence begin small.

If you want to run 5 km each morning, start with one or even half a km. The initial few days of trying something new can be stressful. It takes our body and mind, time, to get used to things. If eating healthy is your goal, start with one healthy meal a day. It takes a little less effort and helps you get used to the change. If you are working on a report, work in half-hour chunks with a five-minute break between every half an hour (check out the Pomodoro Technique)

positive day2. Celebrate Small Wins

Even if you have run just a kilometer on two consecutive days, while your aim may be to run 5, give yourself a pat. Well begun is half done. Reward yourself with something small. It could be listening to your favourite music, reading your favourite book or spending time on a call with your friend. The choice is yours but the celebration is a must to keep you motivated.

3. Surround Yourself  With Cheerleaders

Share your goal and efforts with people who care for you. Those people who would be excited and happy to see you do well. Enroll their help, let them check on your progress and remind you how well you are doing. They will become your support system and give you the much-needed boost when you feel like giving up. All of us need cheerleaders to cheer us on.

4. Watch Your Self-Talk

What do you tell yourself when you set out to run a mile but are tired and end up walking half the distance instead? Do you cut yourself some slack or beat yourself up? Do you think that you will rest a little and try again or do you say, “There I did it again! Why am I sloppy, slow and incapable?” Watch out, the one person whose words have a significant impact on you is YOU! Pay attention to your self-talk. Reframe the negative lines with positive ones. So instead of saying “I couldn’t even run 2 km”, say “I did 1.5 km, an improvement from yesterday”

5. The Last Stretch

Many years ago, as a hotelier, I was once asked to make 100 cold calls, to inform people about the upcoming New Year event. It wasn’t a very pleasant task because often people would hang up even before I completed my first sentence. Every time I was tempted to stop and take a break, I’d tell myself, “Just two more calls and then its break time”.

Consequently, I ended up doing those 2 calls more enthusiastically and I was done with all the 100, faster than expected. This strategy works really well. Stretch your limits, little at a time. If you have run a kilometer and want to stop, push yourself to run just another 100 meters more.

If you have written 600 words for the day, write just 50 more before you call it a day. Slowly but surely you will have a bigger appetite, higher capacity and things will get easier, not to mention that you will be getting closer to the win you have been looking forward to.

Little at a time, turn these pointers into habits and just like insignificant small habits can veer you away from your achievements, these small winning habits will steer you towards your big wins. Remember, nobody was born a winner or a loser, your thoughts and efforts make you so. Like Aristotle said “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit”.

We hope these tips help your form and achieve your goals for the coming year. Do let us know your thoughts in the comments below. For more articles like this, check out Healthy Reads. To get the right guidance and motivation from an expert, subscribe for GOQii’s Personalised Health Coaching here.

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From Terminal Illness To Complete Wellness! Ananda Mukherjee Health Story

As we observe World Cancer Day under the powerful theme ‘United by Unique’ (2025-2027)**, we are reminded that every individual’s journey with cancer is distinct, yet united by shared resilience, hope, and the collective fight against this disease. This theme places people at the centre of care and their stories at the heart of the […]