The zen time piece by now andz
But this is exactly what happens with cancer cells - infinite replication. A cell that reproduces endlessly sounds like a good thing at first - that cell would be immortal. Too much telomerase activity can also be a problem, however. In a recent study in mice by Harvard researchers, they found that boosting levels of telomerase reversed signs of aging, restoring graying fur and fertility, increasing brain size and sharpening scent perception. Of course, the relationship between health and telomerase is complex. “It’s a very good study with interesting results in terms of health implications,” says Alan Marlatt, a professor of psychology at the University of Washington who has studied meditation for decades but was not associated with this research. (Researchers were unable to compare telomerase levels in the groups both before and after the retreat for logistical reasons.) In retreat participants who showed no psychological change, telomerase levels were not any higher than in controls. In other words, people with higher levels of telomerase also showed more increases in psychological improvement. But the interesting thing was that the changes we saw tracked quantifiably with the change in people’s psychological well-being and outlook.” A lot of things happened during the retreat. “Something about being on a retreat for three months changed the telomerase in the retreat group,” says Elizabeth Blackburn, a study author who has won a Nobel Prize for her previous work on telomerase. Telomerase can mitigate - and possibly stop - cell aging. As the chromosome becomes more and more vulnerable, cell copying becomes sloppier and eventually stops when the telomeres disintegrate completely. Each time a cell reproduces, its telomeres become shorter and less effective at protecting the chromosome - this, researchers believe, is a cause of aging. Telomerase is responsible for repairing telomeres, the structures located on the ends chromosomes, which, like the plastic aglets at the tips of shoelaces, prevent the chromosome from unraveling. ( More on : Empathy Beats Bullies)Īfter the three-month intervention, researchers found that the meditators had on average about 30%* more activity of the enzyme telomerase than the controls did. Their meditation centered on mindfulness - for instance, focusing solely on breathing, in the moment - and on lovingkindness and enhancing compassion towards others. Participants meditated six hours per day for three months. Researchers led by Tonya Jacobs of the University of California-Davis compared 30 participants at a meditation retreat held at the Shambhala Mountain Center in Colorado with matched controls on a waiting list for the retreat. The study is preliminary and didn’t show that meditation actually extends life, but the findings suggest a possible means by which it could. The image of the ancient but youthful-looking sage meditating on a mountaintop might be closer to reality than you think, according to a new study that found that after a three-month stay at a meditation retreat, people showed higher levels of an enzyme associated with longevity. But venturing outside for about 20 minutes a day can provide similar benefits, she says. Treatment for SAD may include using a special light box, says Marla Wald, a psychiatrist at Duke University Medical Center, in Durham, North Carolina.
If your depression and related fatigue seem to strike more frequently in winter, you could have seasonal affective disorder (SAD). If that doesn’t help, however, speak to your doctor, who may recommend talk therapy or a mood-boosting medication, like a selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor (SSRI). Set your Zen Timer for 30 minutes and try a few yoga poses in the comfort of your own home. Aerobic exercise-specifically, 30 minutes or more three to five days a week-is effective at treating mild to moderate depression, and may minimize the sleepiness associated with it. Research has indicated that people with depression may be four times more likely than the nondepressed to experience unexplained fatigue.
Harunobu Suzuki, A girl Collecting Cchrysanthemum Dem by the Stream