Meditation, yoga and Tai Chi do more than just relax your brain and body. New research from Frontiers in Immunology shows that mind-body interventions (MBIs) actually reverse molecular reactions in your DNA. When you reverse stress-related changes in genes, you can mitigate diseases associated with depression, fibromyalgia, and other inflammation-related diseases. “Even just 15-minutes seems to do the trick. By choosing healthy habits every day, we can create gene-activity patterns that are more beneficial for our health,” says Ivana Buric Lead Investigator from the Brain, Belief and Behavior Lab at Coventry University.
Research is focusing on how gene expression is activated. In simple terms, what stimulates them to produce proteins, called cytokines, which influences the biological blueprint of our body. Any guess? Stress.
Stressful events (short or long) wake up the sympathetic nervous system – the fight or flight response that triggers inflammation at the cellular level. When left in overdrive, our system is more susceptible to cancer, psychiatric disorders, and accelerated aging.
And you don’t need to exercise everyday. Moderate intensity of physical activity adds up over time. The “weekend warriors” get the same benefits as those who exercise a few times a week (JAMA Internal Medicine). Millions of people, young and old, are enjoying the health benefits of MBI activity. “These activities are leaving what we call a molecular signature in our cells, which reverses the effect that stress or anxiety would have on the body by changing how our genes are expressed. Put simply, MBIs cause the brain to steer our DNA processes along a path that improves our wellbeing,” says Ivana Buric.
Imagine the greater effects if we combine exercise with proper nutrition, loving sex, and adequate sleep. Any combination will do.