Meditation has been around for many years and people have been using it to attain peace of mind.  Nowadays, more and more people, from harassed students to stressed workers, entrepreneurs to busy parents, are learning to meditate.  Studies have shown that meditation is good not just for calming the mind, but that it also has many health benefits for the body.

7 Top Benefits of Meditation 

1. Boosts performance and increases productivity

When we’re tired, our performance is affected and our productivity falls.  To combat this, many people consume caffeinated drinks like coffee which is popular for raising your energy levels and improving your performance.  However, meditation has been shown to produce the same results but without the potential negative effects of caffeine such as an energy slump once the effects have worn off.

2. Aids in alleviating pain

Although meditation cannot physically remove pain, it is able to support the mind and body in lessening the sensation of pain.  Similar to women in labor who cope with pain by focusing their attention on other things such as their breathing, meditation also aids in distracting the brain and shifting the focus on other things.

3. Helps control cravings

Meditation was seen in some studies to assist in controlling cravings, whether it’s for food or some other substance.  It helps us develop self-control, and the same as meditation’s effect on pain, it can also take our mind away from our cravings until they subside.  The results of meditation on craving control last longer as well and are more long-term.

4. Lower risk for brain deterioration caused by aging

Based on a recent study, researchers have discovered that people who have been meditating for several years were subject to less brain reduction in brain cells compared to people who usually do not meditate.  This is significant because deterioration In the brain due to aging contributes to illnesses like dementia.

5. Enhances quality of sleep

Another study showed the positive effects of meditation on sleep quality.  When compared to a standard method like education on correct sleeping habits, meditation produced more improvement in the respondents’ quality of sleep.  This suggests that meditation can be used together with other methods for better results in patients who have sleep problems.

6. Stops stress related symptoms

It’s no secret that stress alone can already cause many illnesses and health problems.  Using meditation as a coping mechanism, the tension the mind and body feels can be lessened, therefore diminishing other symptoms such as stress-triggered headaches, insomnia, high blood pressure and indigestion.

7. Develops your concentration skills

Practicing meditation involves learning to lengthen your attention span and centering your mind on your task.  As a result, your brain is trained to focus all of its effort on your specific activity helping to maintain focus on any task and improve your general performance.

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