Forever Twenty

We all worry about keeping our thighs toned and our tummies flat, but have you ever thought about keeping your mind in shape? Are you stressed out a lot or do you find yourself more relaxed these days? Believe it or not, your emotions can effect the aging process as much as your physical habits. So what can we do to keep those brain cells in tip-top condition? One word: Meditation.

Recent research suggests that meditation and other forms of mindful relaxation may help slow down the biological clock, so you're better able to heal and to withstand disease. "There's a reason why experienced meditators live so long and look so young," says Eva Selhub, MD, medical director of the Mind/Body Medical Institute. That reason has mainly to do with reducing stress. Though there is little direct research on meditation and aging, one 1989 study of residents in nursing homes showed that those who practiced transcendental meditation had better mental flexibility and lower blood pressure, and lived longer.

posted by Jennifer  # 10:12 AM