Wellness Live

What comes to mind when you think of healthy habits? For most people, it’s likely exercise, healthy eating, and an ideal sleep schedule. One healthy habit that probably isn’t top of mind is meditation—a practice that is becoming increasingly evident can positively affect your entire wellbeing.

The benefits of meditation impact your heart, stress levels, mental state, and can boost your body’s natural immune response as well as support a healthy inflammatory response.^ Consider the perks of this healthy habit—and learn how to incorporate it into your daily routine.*

Meditation can help lower blood pressure

Numerous studies have researched the impact of meditation on heart health—and the results are promising. According to Harvard Health, “what’s good for the mind can be good for the heart”—and that’s where meditation comes into play. Consistent meditation can positively impact your heart rate variability (HRV), or a sign of heart health reflected by the change in time intervals between each heartbeat. A high HRV, which meditation can promote, is a sign of a healthier heart.*

Regular meditation has been linked to positive health results such as lowering systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure, therefore aiding in healthy heart function. Another positive benefit of meditation is that it can promote an optimistic outlook on life (more on this, next). A positive outlook can motivate meditators to engage in other good-for-you habits like regular exercise and good dieting practices.*

It can boost memory function & positive brain activity

Our ability to focus on and retain information often decreases with age—but meditation can actually help us preserve these crucial brain functions. A study of undergraduate students preparing to take the GRE found that even just a few weeks of consistent meditation increased participants’ memory and concentration, resulting in higher test scores.*

This boost in cognitive abilities can positively impact gamma wave activity—or the waves your brain produces when you’re focusing and engaged—as shown by studies of Buddhist meditation. Gamma waves facilitate mental processes like learning and memory retention.*

Meditating can reduce stress & anxiety

A common piece of advice when you’re feeling panicked or stressed? Take a deep breath. While meditation requires a bit more discipline and thought, the benefits are quite similar—meditation and breathwork can help defuse anxious thoughts and aid in stress reduction.*

Meditation principles can help reduce anxiety by giving people a more constructive way to view their thoughts. An assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School explained to Harvard Health how meditation helps us disassociate from our anxious thoughts. People with anxiety have a problem dealing with distracting thoughts that have too much power … mindfulness teaches you to recognize, ‘Oh, there’s that thought again,' and then let it pass.*

Taking time to meditate can boost your immune system

Studies show the benefits of meditation include immune system support. Reviews detailing the correlation between meditation and the body’s natural defense system showed an increased number of CD-4 cells (which help activate other immune cells) and increased telomerase (a key enzyme for cell survival) activity.*

Certain supplements can aid your meditation practice

There are plenty of things that could negatively affect your meditation—loud music, excess noise, or a mess, to name a few—but did you know there are environmental factors and other add-ins you can utilize to maximize the benefits of your practice?

Remove distractions (yes, that means your phone and laptop, too) and block out as much unwanted noise as you can. Consider introducing an adaptogen-based supplement like Serene Science® Theanine Serene® with Relora® or Serene Science® Saffron Extract into your practice as this can help your body adapt and remain calm in the face of negative stress.*

For more information on healthy living and wellness tips from Source Naturals, click here.

^Not all inflammation is associated with disease states. Inflammation is also the body’s healthy immune response to life’s normal stressors such as strenuous exercise or an occasional high-fat/high-calorie meal. The body’s inflammation response to life’s occasional, normal stressors is important for optimal health.