Regular meditation may improve your gut health, a new study has found.
Current evidence shows that chronic stress can trigger the onset or worsening of gastrointestinal diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Experts have found that meditation, yoga, and cognitive behavioral therapy tend to reduce stress, which can reduce your risk of experiencing gut-related health complications.
This study reports that having a positive impact on the brain also has a positive impact on the gut microbiome.
Also known as the gut-brain axis, this refers to the biochemical signaling between neurons in the central nervous system and the gastrointestinal tract.
Serotonin and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) are neurotransmitters and neuroactive compounds produced in the gut that are essential for enhancing mood and cognitive function.
Previous research has shown that poor gut health can lead to the development of anxiety, depression, cancer, heart disease, and inflammatory bowel disease.
According to this study, the gut is the body’s second brain, as changes in gut structure and resulting inflammation can affect brain structure and function.
During the trial, researchers looked at the health status of 64 adults who completed an eight-day Isha meditation Samyana practice.
They found that the meditation retreat had a positive impact on participants’ intestines and lipid metabolism in the intestines.
