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MeditationThere are several positive changes that happen during a session of meditation, including lowering of the metabolic rate and decreases in heart and respiration rates. The parasympathetic system is stimulated during meditation, which causes an overall relaxation response. Also, the lower rate of metabolism and the lower rate of oxygen and heart rate causes a decrease in carbon dioxide yield and lactic acid concentration of the blood. The drop in blood lactic acid levels are related to increased levels of relaxation in studies. Psychological and emotional stress has been confirmed by studies to play a major role in the acceleration of fundamental aging processes. Therefore, many following anti aging regimens include meditation primarily to counterbalance those stresses in an organized and proven way. The link between raised nightly melatonin levels and meditation, meanwhile, was found in a 1995 study by researchers at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center. Another study published in the journal Biological Psychology has further confirmed this finding. In the follow-up study, researchers found that meditation before bedtime increased melatonin levels for that night. No increases in blood melatonin levels were noted on nights where participants did not meditate. Melatonin has several anti aging effects, and studies done on the compound suggest that it helps protect against age-related degenerative diseases. Meditation - StudiesTooley GA, Armstrong SM, Norman TR, Sali A. Acute increases in night-time plasma melatonin levels following a period of meditation. Biological Psychology 53 (2000) 69-78. Massion AO, Teas J, Hebert JR, Wertheimer MD, Kabat-Zinn J. Meditation, melatonin and breast/prostate cancer: Hypothesis and Preliminary Data. Medical Hypotheses 44 (1995) 39-46.
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