A recent study has shed new light on the health impact of yawning, and the results may surprise you. While yawning is often associated with boredom or tiredness, researchers have found that this reflexive act actually plays an important role in regulating brain function and maintaining good health.

Cool down the brain and increase blood flow

According to the study, which was conducted by a team of researchers at the University of Nottingham in the UK, yawning helps to cool down the brain and increase blood flow. This, in turn, helps to regulate the body’s temperature and prevent overheating, which can be harmful to brain function.

 Stimulate the release of certain chemicals in the brain

In addition, the act of yawning also helps to stimulate the release of certain chemicals in the brain, including dopamine and oxytocin, which are associated with feelings of pleasure and social bonding. This may explain why yawning is often contagious, as we tend to yawn when we see others doing so, and why it is often used as a sign of empathy and social connection.

 Positive impact on our immune system

But perhaps most surprising of all is the finding that yawning may also have a positive impact on our immune system. The researchers found that yawning helps to increase the production of certain white blood cells, which are essential for fighting off infections and diseases which can cause a disruption in our day to say activities leading to a decade in productivity, efficiency and effectiveness needed to thrive and be filled with energy to go about our daily activities.

All of these findings suggest that yawning is not just a simple reflexive act, but rather an important mechanism for maintaining good health and well-being. So, the next time you feel a yawn coming on, don’t be so quick to dismiss it – it may be doing your body a lot of good.