Continuing the series of Longevity, Regeneration, and Optimal Health, the next paper explores the possible effects of stress, as well as its antidote, mindfulness, on the rate of cellular aging. Telomeres are essentially ‘protective caps’ for our DNA that decrease in length over time for a multitude of reasons, and this shortening is considered a key predictor of longevity. Studying the effects of stress arousal and oxidative stress on this shortening, it is seen that even on a molecular level it is killing us. Mindfulness and the related meditation practices are then shown to have an inverse effect on almost all the same processes by which stress is so deleterious.
“In addition to mitigating stress-related cognitions and emotions, some types of meditation appear to reduce markers of stress arousal, both through the HPA axis, increasing vagal tone, and reducing markers of sympathetic arousal.”
Although much is yet to be proven, simply the fact that meditation is constantly being linked to so many positive results, and so many more possibilities still being explored as well as those to come in the future, makes one wonder where this practice came from. It truly does seem to be the mender of many, if not all faults.
Keep breathing.
“In addition to mitigating stress-related cognitions and emotions, some types of meditation appear to reduce markers of stress arousal, both through the HPA axis, increasing vagal tone, and reducing markers of sympathetic arousal.”
Although much is yet to be proven, simply the fact that meditation is constantly being linked to so many positive results, and so many more possibilities still being explored as well as those to come in the future, makes one wonder where this practice came from. It truly does seem to be the mender of many, if not all faults.
Keep breathing.
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