The Health behind a Smile

June 15 is National Smile Power Day, and what better way to start the day than with a smile? Most people think that we smile because we feel happy, but it can go the other way as well: we feel happy because we smile.

In fact, the simple act of smiling, whether forced or genuine, spurs a chemical reaction in the brain, which releases dopamine and serotonin. Many people know those two neurotransmitters by different names; serotonin is often called the happiness hormone and dopamine the feel-good hormone. Therefore, a person's smile is a powerful tool for improving mood, de-stressing, and promoti...