Mind-Body Medicine

While our genes are responsible for some of the health problems we encounter as we age, how we choose to live has a vast influence over our ailments. There are many more examples, but the following demonstrate the power we have over our own health.

Meditation

• Reduces blood pressure

• Practitioners have a 40-50% lower response to pain.

• Significantly increases activity in the part of the brain associated with positive emotions while simultaneously boosting immunity.

• Heightens immunity.

Optimism

• Improves mood.

• Heightens resistance to catching the common cold.

• Speeds recovery and increases longevity after heart transplant surgery.

Hypnosis

• Improves symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome from 52% to 87%.

Eating Vegetables

• Helps keeps the brain young. A recent study demonstrated that those who ate more than two vegetable servings a day had 40 percent less mental decline than those who ate few or no vegetables. Their test results resembled what would be expected in people about five years younger.

• Reduces the risk of heart disease, stroke and cancer, the leading causes of adult death.

Guided imagery and the Relaxation Response

• Reduce pain and recovery time after surgery, getting patients home more quickly.

A Physically active lifestyle

• Reduces the risk of developing diabetes.

• Reduces the risk of developing high blood pressure.

• Reduces the risk of developing colon cancer.

• Reduces the risk of dying from heart disease.

• Reduces feelings of depression and anxiety.

• Reduces cognitive decline with age.

• Reduces the risk of dying prematurely

Courtesy: Mind Body Medical Institute