Meditation has been practiced for centuries because of its many benefits, including stress reduction, increased happiness, and even better physical health. Devoted meditators from a variety of spiritual traditions understood the immense benefits of their practice even before the establishment of contemporary science and medicine.
Because of the stress that is so commonplace in modern life, a growing number of people are turning to meditation for benefits other than its original spiritual purpose. The benefits of meditation to one’s physical and mental health are being supported by an ever-expanding body of research. Finding out how and why meditation is so helpful for the brain is the focus of additional research avenues. Anshoo Sethi is a person full of interest in these lifestyle medication matters.
Treatments for stress, anxiety, and depression have improved.
Multiple studies suggest that persons who struggle with stress, anxiety, or depression may benefit from practicing mindfulness meditation. In 2014, researchers conducted a literature review that summarized the findings from 47 trials of mindfulness meditation with a total of around 3,515 participants. The research concluded that meditation is a useful technique that has the potential to lessen the negative effects of stress and depression. Anshoo Sethi in Chicago has always been curious about lifestyle steps. The “stress hormone” cortisol decreases in people who meditate, and those who meditate also report feeling less worried.
Improved ability to fight against infections
Research conducted at Ohio State University suggests that regular practice of mindfulness-based muscle relaxation techniques may lessen the risk of recurrence of breast cancer. Ohio State University also studied the positive effects of meditation on the elderly. Lymphocytes, or natural killer cells, help boost the immune system, and this research found that patients whose treatment included both mindfulness and relaxation practices had an increase in their lymphocyte counts after 30 days. The test subjects showed improved resistance to cancer and viral infections as a direct result of this.
Blood pressure readings are lower
Mindfulness meditation has been shown to aid in the management of blood pressure, which is only one of the potential extra advantages for those who meditate for health reasons. Researchers discovered that patients who took part in a fitness program that included meditation had considerably lower blood pressure than those in the control group, and their findings were reported in the British Medical Journal. Experts think that meditation has a similar effect on the body as blood pressure lowering medication by decreasing the body’s sensitivity to cortisol and other stress hormones. This is only one way in which meditation improves a person’s physical well-being. Anshoo Sethi has been active on these health aspects.
Conclusion
Learning to calm the mind and body via meditation is helpful not just throughout the day but also before bed. More than that, it trains the mind to concentrate on one thing at a time, like the breath, and to let go of distractions like clouds on a clear day. Some people find that guided meditations help them go to sleep and stay asleep more easily. Harvard Medical School suggests focusing on a phrase like “breathe in calm, breathe out tension” instead of counting sheep to help you go off to sleep.