by Dr. Isaac Eliaz, M.D., MS., L.Ac.
When it comes to total health, there are many factors to consider, but most people don’t think of meditation as being important in maintaining physical vitality. However, numerous studies point to the extensive health benefits of meditation, particularly because it so effectively reduces stress. Stress not only affects our mental and emotional states, it has grave consequences for our physical condition as well. Recent studies have revealed that chronic stress may have a profound effect on our DNA by shortening our DNA telomeres, putting us at a higher risk of developing cancer and other degenerative conditions. The good news is that meditation is now proving successful in physically repairing this DNA damage, while restoring peace of mind at the same time.
Telomeres and Your Health
Our genes are located on twisted, double-stranded molecules of DNA called chromosomes and at the ends of the chromosomes are stretches of DNA called telomeres. Telomeres are essentially the end caps that protect our chromosomes from fraying due to aging, poor health and environmental assaults. While researchers are already aware that telomeres shorten and deteriorate with aging, new studies are finding that chronic stress also contributes to their reduction. These studies show that the shorter your telomeres become, the higher your risk for developing numerous types of cancer (breast, prostate, ovarian, lung, and many more) along with other degenerative diseases.
Meditation Protects Telomeres
The inevitable wear and tear of your telomeres cannot be stopped altogether, but it can be prolonged and even reversed through the activation of a key enzyme called telomerase. Telomerase adds bases to the ends of telomeres and keeps them from weakening and fraying. So how do you reap the benefits of this super-charged enzyme? Research from the University of California Davis reveals that regular meditation improves and increases telomerase activity by over 30 percent. This means increased DNA protection and cellular longevity, naturally.
Regardless of your age, health or belief system, simple regular meditation practices can benefit you on all levels. As more and more doctors and health practitioners are recommending this ancient, time-tested practice, meditation is on its way to holding a well-deserved reputation as a simple yet powerful, and safe modality for supporting health and preventing illness. For information and tips on simple mediation practices, visit dreliaz.org .
Dr. Isaac Eliaz, M.D., MS., L.Ac., has been a pioneer in integrative medicine since the early 1980s.  He is Director of Amitabha Medical Clinic and Healing Center in Sebastopol, CA, (707-829-5900) where he and his team of integrative practitioners treat cancer and other chronically ill patients using a wide range of cutting edge and traditional therapies drawn from diverse medical systems.
