4 science backed reasons to meditate

We have all heard that meditation is good for us.

There are so many benefits of meditation you can enjoy just by practicing a few minutes daily. Meditation makes you calmer, happier and energetic. It provides a much needed rest to the mind and the body.

But what does science say about meditation? If you need more reasons to include meditation in your life, here are 4 science backed benefits of meditation why you should learn how to meditate!

4 science backed reasons to meditate

1. Meditation sharpens your brain

The famous grey cells that Hercule Poirot always talked about (you know Hercule Poirot - the world's greatest fictional detective), they actually become more abundant in your brain with meditation. A study at Harvard showed that the amount of grey matter in the brain increased just after 8 weeks of meditation. The impact was seen especially in areas connected to learning, empathy, memory and emotional regulation. No wonder people who practice meditation have more compassion and emotional balance.

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2. Meditation slows down aging

If you meet long time meditators, you will notice how young they look. 60 year olds look like they are in their 40s. They glow, their skin looks great and they have so much energy.

You know why? Because meditation slows down cellular aging.

The cells in our body are constantly dividing to create new skin, new blood, new gut lining etc etc. As a cell divides, so does the DNA in the cell. The DNA has little protein caps - called telomeres - at their ends, which protects them from disintegrating as the cells divide. Cells divide at a rapid rate in our body so these caps ensure the DNA stays intact as it's replicated to make a new cell. If that doesn't happen, the DNA will mutate, giving rise to diseases and problems in our body.

Several research studies show that meditators have longer telomeres than non meditators. That means that their DNA has stayed more intact compared to age related controls who don't meditate. Aging and wear and tear at cellular level is lower in people who Meditate.

Plus another benefit of Meditation is slowing of the cognitive decline as we age. People who meditate look good and stay sharper as they grow older.

3. Meditation reduces anxiety and stress

Several research studies have shown that meditation is very helpful for anxiety and reduces stress and symptoms of depression.

Numerous studies have documented