Medical research has uncovered hidden benefits to the festive season:
- Receiving cards: the more Christmas cards they received, the higher their levels of self-esteem and happiness
- Eating chocolates: several studies show there are health benefits to our favorite confectionery
- Going to church: a Christmas prayer may do you the world of good
- Meeting friends: Chatting with family and friends prevents dementia
- Mistletoe: extract of mistletoe is already reported to be a popular alternative cancer therapy in Germany
- Eating cranberries: drinking cranberry juice raised levels of 'good' cholesterol in the blood and slashed the risk of heart disease by up to 40 percent
- Laughing: men who watched a funny video experienced a 40 percent drop in levels of cortisol--a stress hormone linked with heart disease
BBC News December 25, 2003