Everybody has cried at some point in their lives. Some maybe more than others. Regardless, scientists have calculated that on average, a person will cry about 16.5 gallons of tears over the course of their life – that’s certainly a lot of tears. But some new information is surfacing that may make you want to try and out-cry that average. It turns out that crying is not only good for your mental health, but it also may help you shed weight. While you may be skeptical about that last part, there is truth behind the scientific study. It’s all a link to cortisol. Cortisol is a hormone that is often tied to stress, and when it is released, it can lead to weight gain and obesity. But having extra cortisol can also help us fight off anything that is causing us stress. However, the problem is today’s society doesn’t always allow us the chance to come off the cortisol high, and we end up fighting obesity as well as stress, because when stressed our bodies feel that we’ve burned calories and need to replenish them. You may be wondering what this has to do with crying. Well, as it turns out, scientists are finding that emotional tears can actually help to decrease cortisol levels in our bodies. The hormones prolactin, leu-enkephalin, and adrenocorticotropin – also known as ACTH – all are produced naturally when we’re under major stress. When we cry, it released those hormones and in turn reduces our cortisol levels. As a result, our bodies recognize that it doesn’t need to hold onto the fat because the stress is over. While we may find ourselves in a vicious cycle of comfort eating when the stress hits, but science has shown that if we let that out with a good cry, it’ll actually be just as effective at reducing stress, as well as reducing our waistlines. But don’t think you can cheat the system. While some people are able to cry on demand, and others might take up cutting more onions, those kinds of efforts are futile. It is only when real emotions are involved that the tears being released will also release the hormones that help us lose weight. There is also an optimal crying time, which is between 7 and 10 pm. So if you feel yourself getting emotional following a break up, or work stress, or whatever is troubling you, feel free to let it out and have a good cry. It will do wonders for your body. Source
