Rae Malik
Opinions Editor and Online Layout Editor

Every year our tears weigh about 30 gallons. Crying is an instinctive occurrence that many people experience every day. People cry for various reasons and often times do not think about the pros of crying. It is important to note that there are many health benefits associated with crying.

According to researcher Lana Burgess, there are several different forms of tears that humans produce. The first type of tear is called basal. This is the liquid in the eye that keeps eyes from drying and occurs every time someone blinks. The second type is reflex, this happens instinctively whenever outside germs or pathogens attempt to enter the eye.

Due to reflex, the eye also gets rid of irritating particles such as dust or smoke\; an example of this is crying as they are cutting onions.

Lastly, the third type of tear is emotional. These tears are caused by a variety of human emotions, such as joy, sadness and excitement. The large amount of stress hormones in this tear makes it easy to identify.

“There are various reasons for which I cry, like whenever I feel sad or have anxiety. It can also be because of anger and frustration,” junior Mei Vickery said.

Crying has many benefits, both emotionally and physically. While crying, the human body releases endorphins that give a sense of relaxation and calmness. According to a study at Yale University, students have reported that they feel more at ease after the emotional release of crying. Crying is able to boost your mood, allowing your body to alleviate emotions.

The physical benefits are that tears are able to keep the eyes from drying and cleanse the eye by getting rid of bacteria. Lastly, crying can not only lower blood pressure levels but it can also decrease stress.

“After crying I feel better\; I feel refreshed and ready to move on with my life,” senior Grace Strobel said.

Crying once in a while due to stress or joy is normal, and it allows for a sense of relief. The average number of times people cry, according to a study at Tilburg University, varies by gender in the United States. Women cry about four times within a month, while men cry on an average of about two times a month. Do not be embarrassed or shy about crying, since it is a healthy activity and is proven to be beneficial.