Make yourself surprised:
a new study reveals that practicing meditation at least once a day can make us live a healthier life.
According to a study conducted at the Chinese Shanghai University School of Medicine among Tibetan monks, it was found that their gut had more bacteria associated with reducing anxiety and depression, as well as bacteria associated with heart health.
"Our preliminary findings suggest that meditation has a 'positive role' in mental and physical health by strengthening gut health," the team of researchers said.
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The research was done by evaluating the different bacteria that exist in the intestines of Tibetan monks who maintain a lifestyle that includes meditating for at least two hours every day, compared to other residents of Tibet, who lead a lifestyle similar to that of the monks in terms of eating and conduct, but do not meditate.
A woman meditating (illustration), photo: Getty Images
It is important to note that the researchers qualify their conclusion, noting that this is a first-of-its-kind study that examined the bacteria in the feces of 37 Tibetan Buddhist monks against the bacteria in the feces of 19 other Tibetan residents.
The researchers also noted that they chose for the experiment people from the same age group and the same level of health, and compared the monks to the other people, when the food diet of the two groups was also compared.
To explain how significant the difference is, the researchers stated that the bacteria were responsible for reducing 29% of the culture taken from the monks, compared to 4% of such bacteria, which were in the culture of the control group.
Also, bacteria associated with mental health accounted for 42% of the monks' culture.
"Despite the smallness of the study, it requires a deeper examination of the subject," said the researchers, who added that "the results indicate that long-term deep meditation may have a beneficial effect on the intestinal macrobiota, allowing the body to maintain an optimal state of health."
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