Slow Aging

Some studies show older people who meditate maintain better cognitive skills than those who don’t. Older meditators have more gray matter, more brain cells and longer telomeres. These telomeres indicate biological age rather than chronological age. People with longer telomeres tend to have younger bodies and younger brains. Meditation may not prolong life, but it could slow the affects of the aging process within the brain.

Better Acceptance

Akin to mindfulness and self-awareness, meditation helps people accept situations that may not have positive outcomes. Inner exploration of the mind could lead to better outcomes simply by being mindful of better choices based on what happens in life.

Lower Blood Pressure

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Aside from making better lifestyle choices, the body physically reacts better when people meditate. Nitric oxide builds up in blood vessels as the body relaxes during meditation. This substance opens blood vessels, which decreases blood pressure. A small study in 2008 showed 40 of 60 patients could stop taking blood pressure medication after meditating.

Do you meditate?