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Does Crying Burn Calories? Here’s the Honest Answer

Does Crying Burn Calories? Here’s the Honest Answer

11/05/2025

Does shedding tears help? Does crying burn calories? Find out the real truth in this quick, fun read backed by science.

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Understanding the Physiology of Crying

What Happens in Your Body When You Cry?

When the tears start rolling, your body kicks into a full emotional response mode. All of this is your nervous system responding to a trigger—grief, pain, joy, or even “does crying burn calories” frustration.

Emotional vs. Reflex Tears

Not all tears are created equal. Emotional tears stem from strong feelings, while reflex tears happen when something irritates your eyes—like cutting onions or getting poked. Harvard Health explains that emotional crying is linked to stress-relief and hormone regulation.

Calories 101: What Are They Really?

How Does the Body Burn Calories?

Calories are units of energy. Your body uses them to fuel every action—whether it’s walking, digesting, thinking, or yes, even crying. Burning calories doesn’t always “does crying burn calories” mean physical movement. Emotional stress can elevate your body’s energy use, too.

Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) and Daily Activities

Your BMR is the amount of energy your body uses at rest. Everything you do on top of that—talking, thinking deeply, being stressed, crying—adds a little more to your total daily calorie burn. You can calculate your BMR using tools like the Mayo Clinic’s calorie calculator.

The Calorie-Burning Science of Crying

Does Crying Increase Heart Rate?

Yes, particularly if you’re sobbing or in distress. Emotional crying activates your sympathetic nervous system (your fight-or-flight mode), causing your heart to beat faster, “does crying burn calories” which slightly increases calorie expenditure.

Can Crying Trigger Stress Responses That Burn Calories?

Absolutely. During intense emotional distress, cortisol and adrenaline surge. Your body might tremble, sweat, and feel exhausted afterward—all signs that you burned more “does crying burn calories” energy than usual. According to WebMD, stress does increase energy output.

Realistic Numbers: How Many Calories Are Burned Crying?

While the exact number varies, experts suggest crying burns around 1.3 calories per minute. So, if you’re sobbing for 20 minutes, that’s about 26 calories—not exactly a workout, but technically, yes, crying does burn calories.

Emotional Reactions and Caloric Impact

Crying and the Sympathetic Nervous System

When you’re overwhelmed with emotion, the sympathetic nervous system kicks in, ready to handle stress. This stress response—though mild—can elevate your metabolism “does crying burn calories” temporarily.

How Emotions Like Anger, Sadness, and Anxiety Influence Energy Use

Strong emotions can feel like a full-body event. You might shake, breathe faster, or feel drained. All of that uses more energy than simply sitting calmly—so yes, you’re burning a few extra calories in the process.

Is Crying Equivalent to Physical Exercise?

Sorry, no. Crying may involve minor physical effort, but it doesn’t engage major muscle groups or raise your heart rate long enough to match even light jogging.

Comparing Crying to Other Activities

Crying vs. Laughing: Which Burns More Calories?

Laughing wins! It’s known to burn about 10–15 calories every 10 minutes, according to Healthline, which is more than what crying manages. Plus, laughing feels a whole lot better.

Crying vs. Sleeping or Sitting Quietly

Crying burns slightly more than resting because of the emotional and mild physical effort involved. But don’t count on it as a replacement for walking or stretching.

Crying vs. Light Physical Activity

Walking slowly or doing yoga burns far more calories than crying “does crying burn calories”. So if your goal is fitness, emotional tears won’t do the trick.

Mental and Emotional Benefits of Crying

Crying as a Stress Reliever

Think of crying as a pressure valve. Letting those tears flow helps you release built-up stress, especially if you’ve been bottling it up.

Does Crying Improve Sleep and Mental Recovery?

After a good cry, many people report sleeping better or feeling mentally lighter. That’s no coincidence. Emotional release helps regulate stress hormones and restore calm. A study from Psychology Today supports the idea that crying can bring about emotional relief.

The Psychological Reset Button

It’s a healthy, natural way for your body to manage emotional overload.

Myths and Misconceptions

“Crying Helps You Lose Weight” – Is It True?

This is mostly a myth. While crying burns a few calories, it’s nowhere near “does crying burn calories” enough to result in weight loss unless you’re crying 24/7 (which is neither realistic nor healthy).

Is Frequent Crying Healthy or Harmful?

It depends. Crying occasionally is normal and healthy. But if you’re crying daily and struggling to cope, it might be time to talk to a therapist. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) offers support for recognizing emotional distress.

Does Crying Affect Metabolism?

Not in any significant way. Your metabolism may spike slightly due to emotional stress, but it quickly returns to normal.

Healthy Ways to Manage Emotions and Burn Calories

Alternative Ways to Relieve Stress

Meditation, journaling, listening to music, or even deep breathing can provide emotional release—without relying on tears.

Exercise and Mental Health Connection

Want to burn calories and boost your mood? The CDC confirms that regular physical activity improves both mental and physical health.

Mindfulness and Emotional Regulation

Practicing it daily can reduce the frequency of overwhelming crying episodes.

Final Verdict: Should You Cry to Burn Calories?

In short: Yes, crying burns a few calories—but not enough to make a dent in your weight or fitness goals. It’s more of an emotional release than a physical one. That said, crying is still healthy. It helps regulate emotions, ease stress, and offers a much-needed mental reset. Just don’t rely on it as your next weight-loss strategy.

Conclusion

So, does crying burn calories? Sure, it does—but barely. The real magic of crying isn’t in the few calories lost but in the mental clarity gained. It’s a human experience that connects “does crying burn calories” us with our emotions, helps us heal, and sometimes, gives us just the emotional reboot we need. Embrace your feelings, let the tears flow if they must—but if you’re looking “does crying burn calories” to burn serious calories, you’re better off dancing, walking, or laughing out loud.

FAQs

2. Is it normal to feel tired after crying?
Yes, emotional crying can leave you feeling drained due to hormone release and physical exertion.

3. Does crying release toxins?
Emotional tears contain stress hormones and endorphins, which some “does crying burn calories” believe help detox the body emotionally, though the science is still evolving.

4. Can crying too much affect your weight?
Not directly. While crying burns a small amount of calories, chronic stress or depression could indirectly impact appetite and weight.

5. What are healthier alternatives for emotional release?
Exercise, meditation, creative expression, and talking to someone you “does crying burn calories” trust are all great ways to handle emotions constructively.