How Does Meditation Affect the Immune System?

How Does Meditation Affect the Immune System?

So, to answer the question “How does meditation affect the immune system?” we need to understand what science and studies have found:

Since the immune system responds to both negative and positive emotions, meditation helps eliminate the negative ones and increase the positive ones, thereby reducing the risk of various inflammations.

A study conducted at UCLA found that patients with immune diseases who practiced meditation experienced an increased ability of their immune system to fight and neutralize the cause of the disease.

By practicing meditation, it is possible to increase antibodies in the body, thus enhancing the immune system’s ability to combat diseases, especially infectious ones.

Meditation strengthens the immune system by stimulating a specific part of the brain responsible for this, along with helping to eliminate negative emotions that exhaust the body and make it more susceptible to illnesses.

Meditation helps increase levels of immune T cells, which work to fight pathogens entering the body.

Practicing meditation during illness can shorten its duration, especially infectious diseases such as colds and flu.

Meditation also increases levels of an enzyme called telomerase, which protects chromosomes in the body from damage.

How to Strengthen the Immune System

But how can you strengthen the immune system? The answer lies in following a healthy lifestyle, which includes:

• Practicing meditation daily and regularly
• Avoiding things that cause you stress, as stress negatively affects and weakens the immune system
• Eliminating work and daily life pressures that cause stress
• Getting enough hours of sleep; note that meditation helps you achieve high-quality sleep
• Making sure to wash your hands regularly, especially after using the restroom and before and after eating
• Following a healthy diet containing all essential nutrients

Meditation to Strengthen the Immune System

There are many different types of meditation worldwide, and if this is your first time practicing, we recommend trying several types before choosing the one that suits you.

If you don’t prefer to meditate alone, you can join classes at dedicated centers or use the Tawazon app that helps you with this.

After learning about meditation’s role in improving the immune system’s function and efficiency, here are some steps to help you meditate for this purpose:

• Sit on the floor using a special cushion and make sure your back is straight
• Close your eyes and start deep breathing: inhale through the nose and exhale through the mouth
• Try to count your breaths to keep your mind focused on the exercise; if your thoughts wander, start counting again
• Continue this for 10 minutes, then slowly open your eyes
• Avoid sudden or quick movements; instead, move gradually and slowly

Be assured that over time, you will notice the desired benefits of meditation, both physically and mentally.