Benefits of Meditation

“To the mind that is still, the  whole universe surrenders.”

We all hear about how good meditation is for our health, so how does it help?

Stress and aging are inevitably linked. Aging can lead to more stress and more stress, in turn, can speed up the aging process. A lot of men and women spend so much of their time and energy worrying about aging well or having the perfect body, that they’re actually accelerating the process. Or maybe you don’t worry about aging well so much as you’re overwhelmed and worn down with the stresses of everyday life. In either case, it turns out that all you need is a little peace and quiet.

The art of meditation has been practiced for centuries as a means of alleviating stress and promoting relaxation and inner peace. Many health professionals maintain that if we can control the body’s stress response, we can shape our body’s ability to age better. In other words, changing your state of mind can change your state of body. That’s why meditation is one of the easiest and most inexpensive health, wellbeing and anti-aging secrets. The key to aging well and feeling younger can be as simple as learning to clear your head through meditation.

Here are a few key reasons why meditation is the answer to aging well.

Meditation and Melatonin

Meditation has been shown to increase the level of the hormone melatonin in your body. Melatonin is what regulates your body’s internal clock, which means it helps to regulate your sleep cycle – your brain naturally secretes more melatonin when it’s dark versus when it’s light. Like many other hormones, melatonin production decreases with age. Meditation boosts melatonin, which affects sleep, which is good for aging well because when you’re properly rested, you’re better able to address other means of aging well, like fitness, nutrition, and skin care habits.

More melatonin isn’t just good for regulating sleep. This particular hormone is also critical to aging well because of its antioxidant properties. Research has shown that increased levels of melatonin can protect against free radical damage, prevent heart disease, manage blood sugar levels, and lower blood pressure. Melatonin has also been shown to be helpful in the treatment and prevention of cancer. Because your melatonin level naturally decreases as you get older, increasing it through meditation can help to improve your overall health, therefore ensuring that you’re aging well.

It doesnt have to be an overwhelming thought to start meditation. Start with four to five minute sessions. Try and work up to doing at least 20 minutes of meditating and breathing slowly twice each day. It’s easier to commit to it if you do it around the same time every day, like first thing in the morning or right before bed.