Meditation is one of the mindfulness practices I rely on. A great many of my patients tell me it helps them ease hot flashes, bring down stress, and reach a calmer frame of mind. Here I'd like to walk you through three important ways meditation can benefit you.
1. A stronger sense of connection with others
Though meditation is typically done alone, intriguing findings published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology show that it can deepen how connected we feel to other people. That may strengthen your social ties and sharpen your emotional intelligence.
2. A longer life
Telomeres sit at the tips of your chromosomes and resemble the little plastic caps on the ends of your shoelaces. People with longer telomeres tend to live longer, while shorter telomeres go along with a shorter life span. Studies indicate that mindfulness practices like meditation may help keep telomeres long and ease stress at the cellular level.
3. Less inflammation
Inflammation contributes to a great many of the health conditions we encounter today. NFk-B is a protein complex that plays a central role in the body's inflammatory response. One randomized controlled trial found that meditation can bring NFk-B inflammation down.
I personally use an app called Calm and am fond of it because it requires very little time and features calming voices for each session. I'm Dr. Michael Hunter, and I appreciate your spending time with me today! If you'd like, follow this blog by signing up below. Thank you.
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I hold degrees from Harvard, Yale, and the University of Pennsylvania. I practice radiation oncology in the Seattle area. The fine print: The guidance here is meant to be general only. Please check with a trusted health professional before acting on it. Thank you!
