Control cortisol and slow the aging process with meditation and mindfulness
Are you struggling with the effects of age-related hormone decline? There are two simple steps you can take right now to help improve your mood and your overall health: practice meditation and mindfulness.
Benefits of Mindfulness
Mindfulness involves concentrating fully on the present and all its sensations. A growing body of research shows that this practice can help control levels of the stress hormone cortisol. This is extremely important for healthy aging, because high levels of cortisol can cause accelerated aging throughout the body. Excessive cortisol can also result in adrenal fatigue, which will leave your body unable to manufacture the small amounts of cortisol you need to feel energized on a daily basis.
Benefits of Meditation
Meditation involves an even deeper focus than mindfulness, with the goal of clearing one’s mind of conscious thought entirely. Like mindfulness, meditation is also very effective in reducing stress and controlling cortisol.
Numerous different studies have shown how meditation affects the action of hormones, neurotransmitters, and other essential chemicals in the body. Meditation can boost:
- Serotonin: Research from the University of Montreal found that meditation is protective of serotonin. When you meditate, a variety of feel-good brain chemicals bathe your neurons and helps protect them from the stress that leads to low serotonin. More serotonin translates to better moods.
- DHEA: Sometimes called the “longevity molecule,” DHEA is one of the most important hormones in the body. It helps counteract the effects of cortisol as well as provide the raw materials for making other necessary hormones. Low DHEA is linked to increased risk of mortality. Individuals who practice meditation have 43 percent more DHEA than their peers.
- GABA: If you are low on this calming neurotransmitter, you may suffer from anxiety, nervousness, and insomnia. When it comes to boosting GABA, meditation exercises are more effective than physical exercise, according to researchers from Boston University School of Medicine. One hour of meditation or mindfulness exercises can boost GABA levels by 27 percent.
- Growth Hormone: Growth hormone is responsible for cell repair and renewal in every system of the body. With age, growth hormone levels decline, and the result is aging. When meditation places the brain in Delta wave state, it releases more growth hormone than in other wave states. This translates into faster healing, younger-looking skin, stronger bones, more energy, and many more benefits for health.
- Melatonin: The hormone melatonin is essential for healthy, restful sleep. It is also linked to improved immune function, cancer prevention, and decelerated aging. Unfortunately, modern life is very hard on melatonin and many people do not produce enough of this hormone. Researchers at Rutgers University found that meditation practitioners had an average of 98 percent more melatonin than people who did not meditate.
Support Your Hormone Therapy with Meditation and Mindfulness
If you are suffering from age-related hormone decline, it is important to get appropriate therapy to help restore balance to your hormones. Renew Youth offers a proven safe and effective treatment protocol for hormone replacement. We highly recommend incorporating lifestyle changes such as healthy eating, exercise, and mindfulness or meditation in order to maximize the effectiveness of your treatment and help promote your overall health as you age. To learn more, contact us today.