Can Joy Really Be Anti-Inflammatory?

The past few years, I’ve been intentionally prioritizing having fun. And honestly? It’s working. When I say it’s working, I mean I’m giving myself permission to experience more joy, pleasure, and play, and letting go of the constant pressure to be productive or to always have to be "doing" something. And you know what? I’m feeling better, more uplifted, more vitality… more joy.

Joy is transformative. It doesn’t demand that we hustle for it or prove we’ve earned it. Joy simply is. It’s something we feel and experience. Sometimes it bursts through in a belly laugh or a deep connection with someone. Other times, it’s the meaningful gratitude you feel while soaking in the beauty of the full moon (like I did this past weekend). Joy is healing.

What makes joy pretty awesome is that it’s not just emotional, it’s physical. Science shows that joy lowers the stress hormone cortisol, improves heart rate variability, strengthens immune resilience, and helps shift our bodies out of sympathetic fight-or-flight into parasympathetic rest, digest, and repair. In other words, joy is anti-inflammatory.

On this week’s podcast, Can Joy Really Be Anti-Inflammatory? I explore how prioritizing joy can support your healing and total wellness.

If you gave yourself full permission to follow joy today, what would you do?

​Listen to the podcast here.

Love, Your Wellness Coach,

Alyssa

P.S. Dealing with chronic inflammation, a chronic condition, or feeling out of sync? My 5-Session Focus Series provides personalized anti-inflammatory support to help you realign and thrive. Email me to connect with me and learn more!

August 13, 2025