The Mighty Powers Of Meditation

The Mighty Powers Of . MEDITATION Once relegated to the realm of new-agey pseudo-science, there's now hard evidence to back up the many benefits of meditation for the mind, body and spirit. Here, 20 research-backed reasons to say 'Om.' Mind Body Increases gray matter Reduces Decreases pain depression Boosts immune system Cultivates willpower Physically changes the brain Lowers blood pressure Builds focus and concentration Eases inflammation Boosts cognitive function Reduces heart risk Eases stress and anxiety Reduces Helps sleep loneliness Fosters a healthy body image Cuts emotional reactivity Builds self knowledge Increases compassion Improves empathy Helps relationship satisfaction Spirit Sources: Psychosomatic Medicine, UCLA, NPR, Mayo Clinic, University of Wisconsin-Madison, TIME, American Heart Association, U.S. News, SCOPE, Psychological Science, The Huffington Post, ScienceDaily, American Psychological Association, Northeastern University, Emory University, JAMA Internal Medicine, Brown University, Greater Good, Harvard Health Letter, American Academy of Sleep Medicine, University of Utah, Health.com/Photo: Getty THE HUFFINGTON POST