I've heard that laughing provides the same health benefits as jogging or some other type of light workout. Is this true? Funny you should ask, because a study out of Loma Linda University in California found that mirthful laughter is in fact very healthy. It lowers stress, boosts the immune system, and can lower cholesterol and blood pressure. To go into a little more detail, other studies have found that laughing has a positive effect on the inner lining of blood vessels, called the endothelium.