| Stress is bad for your mental health; there's no | | | | but even for depression and chronic pain. |
| doubt about that. But a recent study conducted | | | | Meditation suggestion |
| by researchers at Georgetown University found | | | | A simple breathing meditation is good for |
| that it can be equally bad for your weight. The | | | | everyday purposes. Find a place that is quiet and |
| study showed that mice under chronic stress and | | | | holds special meaning for you, either outside or |
| on a junk-food diet gained twice the weight | | | | inside, wherever you're most comfortable. |
| expected. | | | | Remove any distractions, like alarms and cell |
| Many people face chronic stress every day: at | | | | phones, and just sit and focus on breathing deeply |
| work, at home, at school, you name it. And | | | | and steadily. |
| unfortunately, that overwhelming stress could be | | | | Don't think about anything else but your breath, |
| having a huge effect on their physical health. If | | | | how you take in a fresh new one that |
| stress and diet are contributing to unhealthy | | | | rejuvenates you, and expelling the old air when |
| weight gain, then it's important to combat the | | | | you've used it up. Your mind may jump around to |
| problem at its source. | | | | other paths at first, but if you keep focused on |
| Daily stress, daily meditation | | | | your breathing, eventually it will settle peacefully |
| One of the best ways to reduce stress is | | | | into the stillness. |
| through meditation. The purpose of meditation is | | | | Come back from your meditation slowly, first by |
| to calm the mind and quell worries and anxiety, so | | | | recognizing the smells and sounds of the area |
| by making it a daily habit, you can gradually bring | | | | around you, and then by gently rotating your |
| that calm to every area of your life. The only | | | | fingers, wrists and neck. Whatever meditation you |
| thing meditation requires is that you spend 10 to | | | | do, walk away with a new sense of calm and |
| 20 minutes a day on it, either by doing a | | | | serenity. |
| breathing meditation or using a meditation tool to | | | | Meditating for a healthier life |
| calm and focus your thoughts. | | | | Nothing will take the place of proper diet and |
| This kind of meditation, called mindfulness | | | | exercise for basic health. But if chronic stress is a |
| meditation, keeps you grounded in the present, | | | | part of your life, chances are daily meditation |
| where you can be completely aware of your | | | | could help both your mental and physical health. |
| current thoughts and actions without worrying | | | | The more often you meditate, the easier it will be |
| about the past or future. Previous research has | | | | to find that peace in your daily life. Take some |
| suggested that it's beneficial not just for stress, | | | | time to try it and see if you notice the difference. |