NIH Study Confirms Physical and Mental Health Benefits of Meditation

In 2023, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) published a new study about the mental and physical health benefits of regular meditation. Meditation has been defined as a mind-body practice that involves focusing the mind and various breathing techniques designed to reduce stress and anxiety.

It has been reported that the NIH study harnessed the power of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to explore how the brain reacts to meditation in real time and over long periods. Apparently, the study confirmed that meditation can benefit the immune system and other inflammatory processes throughout the body, mainly by decreasing cytokine levels. While many studies have discussed the connection between meditation and stress levels, the NIH study appeared to link meditation with a lower risk for multi-factorial diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. Individuals who meditate also present lower blood cholesterol and diastolic blood pressure levels, according to reports.

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