Regular meditation can improve your gut health, new research has identified.
Latest evidence has shown that chronic stress can trigger the development of, or worsen, gastrointestinal disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Experts have found that meditation, yoga and cognitive behavioural therapy can reduce your risk of experiencing gut-related health complications as they all tend to reduce stress.
- Food preservatives wipe out protective bacteria in gut
- Microbiome: small changes in sleep patterns linked to harmful gut bacteria
- Study shows gut microbiome can trigger arthritis
A positive impact on the brain will in turn have a positive effect on your gut microbiome, the study has reported.
Otherwise known as the gut-brain axis, this refers to the biochemical signalling between neurons in the central nervous system and gastrointestinal tract.
Serotonin and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) are neurotransmitters and neuroactive compounds produced in the gut that are essential for boosting our mood and cognitive functioning.
Previous research has found that poor gut health can trigger the development of anxiety, depression, cancer, heart disease and inflammatory bowel disease.
According to the study, the gut is the body’s second brain because alterations in the gut’s structure, and the resultant inflammation, can influence the structure and functioning of the brain.
During a trial, researchers looked at the health outcomes of 64 adults who completed an eight-day Isha Meditation Samyana practice.
They found that the meditation retreat had a positive impact on the lipid metabolism in the participant’s intestines and gut.
