Finding ways to stay healthy as you get older can be a challenge. As we grow older, our bodies start to show the effects of age. It becomes more difficult to wake up in the morning, eat well and maintain an active lifestyle. However, there’s hope! Research shows that practicing mindfulness meditation and adopting a healthier lifestyle can help you keep your body young throughout old age. Read on to learn more about the benefits of meditation for your health as you get older and find ways to incorporate it into your daily routine.
Boosts Immune System
Meditation helps to boost the immune system. This can be done through increased production of white blood cells, which combat infection.
Controls Pain
Pain is a sensation that is caused by damage to the nervous system. As you age, the body becomes less able to repair the neural pathways that are damaged with age. This results in a higher risk of chronic pain such as back pain. Meditation has been shown to reduce pain by boosting the tolerance for pain and improving the ability to relax.
Helps Stave Off Depression
Today, there are more than 7 million people in the United States who are living with depression. As you age, the hormonal levels become more imbalanced, increasing the risk of developing depression. Research has shown that people who begin practicing mindfulness have a lower risk of developing depression. This is because meditation has been shown to increase serotonin, oxytocin, and dopamine levels, which are hormones that are responsible for regulating mood.
Improves Sleep
Sleep is essential for both physical and emotional well-being. When you don’t get enough sleep, you experience a number of negative side effects, such as moodiness, irritability, and decreased concentration. As you age, sleep patterns become more difficult to maintain. Meditation can help to improve sleep because it increases relaxation and reduces stress, which helps to stimulate the production of melatonin, a hormone responsible for regulating sleep. It has also been shown to decrease the amount of time it takes you to fall asleep. This means that you’re likely to wake up feeling more rested than when you went to bed.
Increases Attention Span
The capacity to stay focused, especially when reading and writing, declines as you age. Meditation has been shown to improve attention span because it helps to boost concentration. It has also been shown to increase the brain’s ability to use energy, increasing cognitive function.
Lowers Blood Pressure
High blood pressure, caused by high levels of salt and water in the blood, is the leading cause of heart disease. Meditation has been shown to reduce blood pressure by reducing stress, which lowers blood pressure. It has also been shown to decrease cortisol, the stress hormone, which has been shown to cause high blood pressure.
Promotes Mindfulness
Mindfulness is a way of living in the present moment by acknowledging and accepting your thoughts and feelings without judgment. Meditation is a great way to cultivate mindful living because it involves focusing on your breathing. Maintaining a regular mindfulness practice will help you be more cognizant of your thoughts and actions as they happen, allowing you to make better decisions.
