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Do crying burns calories?

Can crying can leave you relieved or exhausted, but do we cry from calories? It probably burns a very small quantity, similar to the 1.5 calories per minute that laughter could burn, but there is not much scientific research on this subject.

Jump at the main dishes to remember.

How many calories are burning by crying?

There is not much research on the number of calories that cry. A small 1985 study examined how crying increases the burn of calories for premature infants. He found that babies burned more calories when they were crying.

Estimates found online for calorie expenses by crying do not provide a scientific basis for their figures.

The tears could spend as much energy as laughing. An older study revealed that laughter can burn up to 1.5 calories per minute. However, it was the high -end of the range. Some people in the study burned only 2 calories in 15 minutes to laugh.

The adult collection 2024 physical activities estimates the calories burned for a wide variety of activities. Although it includes laughter, it does not include crying. The collection lists laughing while seated as having the same energy expenditure rate as to sit quietly.

The collection assesses activities in metabolic equivalents (MET) on the basis of studies measuring burnt calories. Sitting quietly is 1 met, just as laughing while sitting. The calories burned to 1 put increase with weight and vary by less than 1 caloric per minute to 1.5 calories per minute. Activities such as standing position or walking spend two to three times more energy.

Do tears make you lose weight?

No, crying alone will not help you lose weight. Weight loss is more complicated than calories compared to calories. However, some experts believe that people have to burn 500 calories more daily than they consume it (a calorie deficit), or 3,500 calories each week, to lose 1 book.

Burning 500 calories per day crying is extremely improbable, even if you cry for hours every day. However, if you are sufficiently upset so that you do not eat, you can undergo weight loss.

Stress, distress and weight loss

Stress and emotional distress can cause weight loss or weight gain. It is unlikely that crying will directly lead to weight loss, but if you are enough in distress so as not to eat or lose weight, you may need to contact a health care provider.

What’s going on when you cry?

Crying is a complex biological process that has an impact on many systems in your body. Here is what is happening when you cry (and after your stop):

Advantages of crying

If you’ve already had a good cry and have found that you feel better, you have known the advantages of crying. Research shows that tears are good for mind and body because it can do the following:

  • Boost mood: The crying releases endorphins and hormones (chemicals that affect your mood and various body systems) and gives you an outlet for emotional distress.
  • Soothe you: The crying can help solve physical and emotional distress and pain and leave you calmer.
  • Help you sleep: Crying is not only exhausting, but it also releases endorphins that can help you sleep deeply.
  • Keep your eyes healthy: Tears rinse bacteria and debris.

Can you cry too much?

The tears are entirely normal, especially if you treat sorrow or loss, or if you go through a hormonal transition such as those associated with puberty or the postpartum period. However, it is also possible to cry too much.

Unexplained sadness, which can include crying, can be a symptom of depression. If your sadness has an impact on your ability to do the activities of your daily life, speak with a doctor about medicines, therapy and lifestyle changes that can help.

Main to remember

  • Perser the crying probably burns a very small amount of calories but is not a significant source of caloric burning.
  • It is unlikely that calories burned in crying will cause weight loss, but stress associated with sorrow can cause weight loss.
  • The tears are healthy and normal, but if your sadness has an impact on your ability to manage the daily activities of your life, it’s time to talk to a health care provider.
Very well health uses only high -quality sources, including studies evaluated by peers, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to find out more about how we check the facts and keep our content precise, reliable and trustworthy.
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  2. Buchowski MS, Majchrzak km, Blomquist K, et al. Energy expenditure of authentic laughter. Int J Obes (Lond). 2007: 31 (1): 131-7 DOI: 10.1038 / SSIB.

  3. Herrmann SD, Willis EA, Ainsworth Be, et al. 2024 Compendium Adult physical activities: a third update of the energy costs of human activities. J Sport Health SCI. 2024; 13 (1): 6-12. DOI: 10.1016 / J.JSHS.2023.10.010

  4. Compendium of physical activities. Inactivity.

  5. Compendium of physical activities. Miscellaneous.

  6. Harvard Health Publishing. Simple mathematics is equivalent to easy weight loss.

  7. Heshmati HM, Luzi L, Greenway FL, Rebello CJ. Editorial: weight changes induced by stress. Endocrinol before (Lausanne). 2023; 14: 1209975. DOI: 10.3389 / Fendo.2023.1209975

  8. Bylsma LM, Gračanin A, Vingerhoets Ajjm. The neurobiology of human crying. AUTHOVE. 2019; 29 (1): 63-73. DOI: 10.1007 / S10286-018-0526-Y

  9. University of Alabama in Birmingham. Why do we cry?

  10. Sharman LS, Dingle Ga, Vingerhoets Ajjm, Vanman Ej. Use tears to face: physiological responses to stress after tears of sadness. Emotion. 2020; 20 (7): 1279-1291. DOI: 10.1037 / emo0000633

  11. Pilozzi A, Carro C, Huang X. Roles of β-endorphin in stress, behavior, neuroinflammation and metabolism of brain energy. Int j mol sci. 2020; 22 (1): 338. Doi: 10.3390 / ijms22010338

  12. American Academy of Ophthalmology. Facts on tears.

  13. Cruse Bereavement Support. Cry and sorrow.

  14. UK National Health Service. Depression symptoms in adults.


By Kelly Burch

Burch is a New Hampshire -based health writer with a communications baccalaureate from the University of Boston.

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