The Amazing Health Benefits Of Meditation

From celebrities like Emma Watson to investment bankers at Goldman Sachs, it seems like everyone is trying meditation.

But what effect does it actually have on the body?

According to ASAPScience, during meditation, brain scans show an increased level of activity in regions of the brain that help decrease anxiety and depression.

There's also more activity in the region that increases pain tolerance.

This combination is thought to improve memory and aid self-awareness.

Meditation also influences brain waves. When measured, regular meditators such as monks have more alpha brain waves than non-meditators.

These alpha waves are thought to reduce feelings of stress and anger and prohibit a negative mood.

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And believe it or not, meditation may actually change the brains shape and size.

Studies show that after an eight week meditation programme, grey matter is more dense in areas of the brain associated with learning, memory processing and emotion regulation.

And it's not just the brain that benefits from mediation.

In a study where both meditators and non-meditators were given the flu virus, meditators were able to produce a greater number of anti-bodies, suggesting the practice causes increased immune function.

Amazingly, meditation may also cut your risk of cancer, heart disease and diabetes - check out the video to find out how.

Then, we highly recommend giving meditation a go.

8 De-Stressing Meditation Apps

Headspace(01 of08)

Kickstart your meditation practice with a 10-day starter program from Headspace, a free guided meditation app. The comprehensive guided meditation sessions offer clear and straight-forward mindfulness instruction for beginners, who can continue to access hours of videos and audio meditations by subscribing for a low monthly fee. (credit:headspace.com)

The Mindfulness App(02 of08)

Sometimes, just remembering to be mindful is the hardest part of sticking to a practice. If you need a little nudge to help you stick with your meditation routine, try The Mindfulness App. The biggest perk of this $1.99 program is that you can set location alerts to remind you to stop and meditate at a particular time or day of the week, or even when you enter a certain location. (credit:apple)

Buddhify(03 of08)

This $2.99 app describes itself as "the urban meditation app for modern life," and was named the number-one health app by UK news outlet The Sun. App Store reviewers rave about the app's clear, simple design and relaxing guided meditations. Customize your meditation to your location: It offers tailored guides for when you're at home, walking or at the gym. (credit:App Store)

Smiling MInd(04 of08)

Designed specifically for young people, Smiling Mind makes meditation fun, easy and accessible. Created by a team of psychologists who specialize in adolescent therapy, the app offers programs catered to different age groups, from 7-11 years old to adult, and also includes reminders. (credit:app store)

Mindfulness Meditation By Mental Workout(05 of08)

This best-selling iPhone app by Mental Workout, designed by renowned meditation teacher and psychotherapist Stephan Bodian, provides guided meditations for both beginners and more experienced mindfulness practitioners. The app features an eight-week program, inspiration talks, body scans and relaxation instructions. According to one App Store reviewer, the app is the best way to learn mindfulness "short of finding your own personal meditation teacher." (credit:mentalworkout.com)

Simply Being(06 of08)

Short guided meditations, with or without music and nature sounds, for relaxation and presence are the focus of this $0.99 app. Perfect for beginners looking for something simple, Simply Being is highly rated for being user-friendly and customizable. (credit:simplybeing.com)

Meditate -- Meditation Timer(07 of08)

If guided meditation isn't your thing, try going your own way with a basic meditation timer app that allows you to follow your own practice, either silently or accompanied by bells. The statistics feature also allows users to track their practice and chart progress. (credit:Apple)

Walking Meditation(08 of08)

This app by Meditation Oasis, the makers of Simply Being, is geared toward mediation on-the-go. With three different guided walking meditations, users can plug in their headphones and unwind in transit. The app comes with a diary for users to keep track of their progress. (credit:apple)

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Health Benefits Of Meditation - From Combating Stress To Cutting The Risk Of Cancer

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