Meditation: health benefits and weight loss

Cell phones ringing off the hook, emails flying back and forth, the constant beep of another incoming text message… many of us feel this type of stress and distraction is overwhelming at times. Do you ever take any time out of your day to just step back and take a few deep breaths?  If not, meditation could be just what you need.

Medical-Dictionary.com defines meditation as, “The practice of concentrated focus upon a sound, object, visualization, the breath, movement, or attention itself, to increase awareness of the present moment, reduce stress, promote relaxation, and enhance personal and spiritual growth.”  Those who enter into a meditative state are described by FreeMeditation.com as, “Entering a realm of silence; the thoughts which assail us fade away, and the reality of the present is revealed to us in all its intensity.”

In the Western world, combining the practice of meditation with medication and normal medical procedures is becoming a frequent way to improve a patient’s health and quality of life. WebMD describes the physical and mental problems that this particular relaxation technique is being used to help treat:

• Addictions; such as drugs, smoking, and alcohol use
• High blood pressure; a report from the National Institutes of Health recommends transcendental meditation as one of the first treatments for high blood pressure
• Pain; including those with chronic pain conditions
• Managing symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes

In addition to this list, cardiologist Herbert Benson, MD, WebMD,  says, “The relaxation response [from meditation] helps decrease metabolism, lowers blood pressure, and improves heart rate, breathing, and brain waves.”

According to a study published in the Journal of Obesity, obese people who engaged in meditation exercises that promoted mindfulness and awareness when eating, were able to decrease the urges and frequency of binge eating (from about four binges per week, to between one and two binges per week). In addition, meditation may help prevent weight gain and reduce obesity risk by lowering the levels of stress hormones in your body.

If you’re interested in meditation, remember that all you need is about 10-15 minutes per day to see the positive affects. Check out your local fitness clubs to see if there are meditation classes in your area. Or, if you would rather ‘work from home,’ there are many websites on the Internet that offer free online classes, videos, and relaxing music to get you started.