A report published in AsiaOne, which claimed people can actually lose fat by shedding tears and venting out their bottled-up emotions caught our attention.


But now fresh reports suggest that the news is fake.

The science behind it

When we cry, cortisol hormones are released in our body. These increased level of cortisol hormones in our body leads to fat loss.

Also, the stress-induced tears help in removing toxic substances from our body, which is good for weight loss. The findings of this study are also backed by William Frey who is a well-known biochemist.

​What you can do

If you are someone who doesn’t cry easily, it might be difficult for you to reap the benefits of shedding tears. According to the study, you will burn fat by crying only if your tears are genuine.

Types of tears

There are three types of tears – basal, reflex and psychic tears. Basal tears are those that keep our peepers moist, reflex tears are the ones that we involuntarily shed due to smoke or pollution and psychic tears are linked with true feelings and human emotions.

​Calories burned during crying

When at rest, our cardiac muscles burn around 8 ½ calories in an hour. When we are emotionally stressed, our heart rate elevates. The elevated heart rate can increase the number of calories burned by the cardiac muscles. And hence, it was stated that the act of crying burns a small number of calories. Also, AsiaOne report claimed that 7 to 10 pm was the best time to release your negative emotions (by crying) because cortisone releasing effect is at its peak during this time frame.

​Verdict

Venting out your bottled up emotions is a healthy sign and nothing to be ashamed of.

Warning

Too many instances of crying may be a signal of depression. Another common symptom is reduced appetite. Someone who is clinically depressed may be crying and losing weight, which could be because of loss of appetite. If you are experiencing the same, you must consult a physician.