National Smile Month, 20th May – 20th June, is encouraging you to show off your biggest smile possible so our Simple Advisory Board experts are on hand to tell you about the benefits of your lips – one of your face’s greatest assets.
Health on Female First
Simple Psychologist, Dr Christine Bundy: “We communicate our emotions and some of our thoughts through our eyes and mouth, so it’s easy to tell if someone is happy or stressed from the way they hold their mouth.
"More importantly, when we smile it triggers the release of endorphins (naturally occurring chemicals that improve mood) making us feel good and this is true even if the smile is a forced one. Smiling makes us more attractive to others as it pulls people into our social circle and other people feel good around someone who smiles a lot.
“Smiling is the antidote to stress, it makes the opposite muscles in the face work and this is the signal to the brain to relax and release endorphins, giving us a small natural high. This hormone release from the serotonin and endorphins also helps to boost the immune system and makes it more likely we will shrug off minor infections so there is some evidence that happy and smiling people are a bit healthier.”
What exercises will help achieve the perfect smile?
Simple Fitness Expert, Anna Reich: “It actually takes more muscle power to frown than it does to smile so if that isn’t a good enough reason to smile more often, I don’t know what is.
"If your smile could do with some tone and definition, why not try one of my favourite facial exercises for the lower face which helps perfect that pout, but also lift and tone the jaw line. There’s no need to resort to invasive treatments – this is free and easy to do and simply helps you improve on what Mother Nature gave you.”
Step 1: tilt your head back gently and kiss the sky 10 times. Remember the kissing motion should be loud and exaggerated so you are working the muscles
Step 2: after your tenth kiss, exhale via one long prolonged kiss, relax and then repeat twice more.