THE BENEFITS OF MEDITATION.
There are many health benefits to meditation as well as on the physical level as the mental level as the social level. It is one of the best anti-dotes to stress. That in itself already hold many benefits. Meditation has an impact on your biology & physiology. Thousands of (clinical) studies confirm what has been known in Asia for millennia. Besides all the health benefits it provides a spiritual growth path that can help you evolve much faster. When you start to meditate you will notice that there will be much less drama in your life. You will not be sucked into negative emotions & you will be much more balanced in challenging situations.
HOW MEDITATION CAN BENEFIT YOU:
Reduces anxiety attacks as it lowers the levels of blood lactate
Balances hormones: cortisol, insulin
Rejuvenates the body
Normalizes blood pressure
Less inflammation
Creates a sense of deep relaxation
More inner peace and less worrying
Increases serotonin for more well being. Low levels are associated with depression, headaches & insomnia
Increased self confidence
Enhanced energy, strength & vigour
Reduces stress & tension & the negative side effects of stress
Creates a feeling of well being
Helps with PMT & menopausal changes
Increased concentration & single point focus
Reduces the possibility of heart disease
Supports weight loss by decreasing cravings & emotional hunger
Improved sleeping pattern
Anti-aging, enhances: Gluthatione, GABA, Endorphins, Nitric oxide, Telomeres, Sirtuin 1, BDNF
Some clinical studies:
MEDITATION LOWERS CHOLESTEROL
A longitudinal study showed that cholesterol levels significantly decreased through meditation in hypercholsteolemic patients, compared to matched controls, over an eleven month period. (Journal of Human Stress, 5: 24-27, 1979)
MEDITATION LOWERS BUILDUP OF PLAQUE IN CORONARY ARTERIES
Recent studies show that meditation, along with diet and exercise, can reduce buildup of plaque in coronary arteries. Long term meditators experience 80% less heart disease and 55% less cancer than non-meditators. (Psychosomatic Medicine 49 (1987): 493-507) Practicing meditation may play an important role in controlling certain risk factors for heart disease…practice for 20 minutes a day has a positive, measurable effect reducing the build up of fatty deposits in arteries or atherosclerosis - just a small reduction could reduce the risk of heart attack by 11% and reduce the risk of stroke by 15%. (CNN, July 2000 referencing the March edition of the journal Stroke)
MEDITATION STRENGTHENS THE IMMUNE SYSTEM
Scientists at the University of Wisconsin reported that people newly trained in meditation have shown an increase in electrical activity in the left frontal part of the brain, an area associated with positive emotion and happiness. Meditators also showed a significant boos of immunity to the flu. (Article: Meditation “fools the brain’ in a threatening world, by R.J. Ignelzi, San Diego Union Tribune March 6, 2007)
MEDITATION REDUCES ADHD SYMPTOMS
78% of adults who completed an 8 week meditation study reported a reduction in total ADHD symptoms. On neurocognitive test performance, significant improvements were found on the measure of attentional conflict. (Mindfulness meditation training in adults and adolescents with ADHD. Journal of Attention Disorders, 11, 737-746)