Shallots are specifically linked to inhibiting human stomach cancer. Shallots produce an anti-coagulant that thins blood and exhibit strong anti-platelet activity and are very good for patients who have symptomatic atherosclerotic disease, cardiovascular disease, heart attack and stroke. It aids brain function and thus protects against Alzheimer’s disease. Shallots can lower blood sugar levels in people with diabetes by preventing degradation of insulin and increasing metabolism of glucose. Eating shallots daily helps in growth of bone tissue and reduces risk of developing osteoporosis by 20%. It contains Prostaglandin A-1, a powerful agent which can lower blood pressure. Sulfur content in shallots makes skin look younger. Daily intake of a little shallot will benefit in long run. Shallots can be eaten raw or cooked till they are tender.

There is also a "bad" humor (same as there is good cholesterol and bad cholesterol). This category includes approach that makes people feel miserable about themselves, or angry, upset and vengeful, as well as skeptic and cynic attitude, which is often front for deep depression and indifference. Jokes directed at other people are also "bad" humor, along with ethnic, racial and sexist jokes, which are born out of frustration, not out of optimism and cheerfulness. Also, people who often make fun of themselves hide a low self esteem, which is only worsened with every funny joke they invent (there is a good reason why clowns and successful comedy actors are often perceived as sad and depressed in their real lives).

If you decide to use laughter as a therapeutic method, first obvious issue is that there are no harmful side effects, and you've got nothing to lose. The second issue is that you can actually improve your sense of humor in time, same as any other skill or ability, by constant training and exposure to jokes and comedy. Next time you go to movies, buy a ticket for a comedy, no matter how dumb poster looks. When you read paper, don't forget to check out their daily cartoon too. Spend ten minutes every day reading jokes, and, when you find some you like, share them with your friends. (And when your boss catches you reading jokes instead of working, tell him it's just therapy, he can't stop your from taking your medication at work, right?) Last but not least, try to find funny side of small things that happen every day around you - there is always something absurd or plain stupid going on right near you, which may provide five minutes of good laugher, which, in turn, may unblock some arteries and keep heart attack far away.

John Ryan is the creator of award winning poker software