What Sam Worthington Falls For: Why it’s Good to Smile
The star of "Avatar" and the highly anticipated "Wrath of the Titans," Sam Worthington, admits to having a weakness for a woman's smile, saying that he always falls for it. But aside from bagging Perseus himself, smiling can have a lot of benefits.
According to Worthington, a girl can wear the worst clothes but she'll still look good if she smiles, adding that smiling lightens the air, reported ContactMusic.com. As it turns out, there is truth to his words as not only does smiling lighten the mood, it also have numerous other beneficial effects, including one's health.
Requiring less effort than frowning, the old saying about the smile and how it brightens up the room actually has basis. According to a study conducted by the British Dental Health Foundation, smiling can dramatically improve a person's mood, as well as those around him, LiveStrong.com reported.
But what a smile is found to be most effective for is in reducing stress and anxiety. A number of things occur when a person is stressed: the pulse rate shoots up, the digestive system shuts down, and the blood sugar level increases. But by simply smiling and slowing down breathing, stress can be reduced, noted Mark Stibich, PhD, consultant at Columbia University.
But not only that, studies have found that the basic act of moving the 12 primary muscles to pull off the pleasant facial expression releases endorphins, natural pain killers and serotonin - all which can make a person feel better. Smiling was also found to lower blood pressure as well as improve the body's immune function as it helps a person relax.
Aesthetically, the facial expression can attract people as it helps a person look positive, confident, and successful. Plus, all the muscles that are used to make a smile lift the face, which can make a person appear younger.
So with all of these benefits, and the possible prospect of getting Worthington, how can a person naturally evoke a smile? According to Natasha Mann of NetDoctor.co.uk, things like spending time with friends and family, or those who guaranteed to cheer one's mood up; taking a break and watching TV or something that's funny; reflecting on happy memories, like looking through fond photographs; and by forcing it as a forced smile may turn into something genuine.