Does meditation help with weight loss? 4 mind-blowing benefits of meditating every morning for 5 minutes |  Photo Credit: Getty Images

New Delhi: Youve probably heard the manifold benefits of morning meditation - but do you actually practice it? No matter how hectic your morning routine may be, starting your day with as little as 5-10 minutes ofsilence may just change your life completely. In fact, this powerful habit can have lasting effects not only on your mental health but also on your weight loss, blood pressure and overall health.

Meditation is a habitual process that helps to connect the mind and body to attain a sense of calm. Many people use it as a way to reduce stress, improve concentration, embrace other good habits and feelings, and even to help with chronic pain. Meditation also appears to help people lose weight by encouraging healthy lifestyle habits. Here are someincredible health benefits of meditating every morning.

Weight loss: Meditation wont help you shed those extra pounds overnight, but the practice can help you become more aware of your thoughts and actions, including those that relate to eating habits. Also, meditation can reduce stress, which drives some people to eat leading to unhealthy weight gain. If youre trying to lose weight, mindfulness meditation could be an effective way to get lean and change food habits.

Stress and anxiety: Theres no denying the fact that many people adopt this mental discipline to help them cope with stress. Research has shown that meditation lives up to its reputation when it comes to stress reduction. One study showed that mindfulness meditation could help reduce inflammation response caused by stress.

Meditating on a regular basis can also help anxiety and mental health issues linked to anxiety such as obsessive-compulsive behaviours, social anxiety, phobias, etc.

Blood pressure: Meditation can also help with high blood pressure, which can lead to a heart attack or stroke. Practised every day, this healthy habit can reduce strain on the heart and arteries over time, preventing heart disease.

Sleep: Meditation can help in the treatment of insomnia by relaxing and controlling the runaway thoughts that can interfere with your sleep. For instance, one study found that participants who practised mindfulness-based meditation fell asleep sooner and slept longer than those who didnt meditate.

You can meditate anywhere and anytime, perhaps, without any equipment or expensive classes. Daily meditation practice can help you reap rewards. Yet, meditating before breakfast is considered an ideal time - the logic is simple: what you do first thing in the morning sets the tone for the day.

Meditation practice can be daunting especially if youre stressed out or youve never tried it. In that case, Laura Maciuika, EdD, a clinical psychologist and author of Conscious Calm: Keys to Freedom from Stress and Worry, recommend to simply put your attention on slower, deeper breathing - even for just five minutes - early in the day before getting busy with anything.

Just ensure that you sit in a quiet place and make yourself comfortable. You can meditate sitting or lying down in any position that makes you feel easy.

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Disclaimer: Tips and suggestions mentioned in the article are for general information purpose only and should not be construed as professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor or a dietician before starting any fitness programme or making any changes to your diet.

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Does meditation help with weight loss? 4 mind-blowing benefits of meditating every morning for 5 minutes - Times Now