12 Things That Happen To Your Body When You Meditate

Fewer addictive behaviors

Addiction comes in many forms, from opioids to food—here’s how to find out if you’re a food addict. ‘Meditation techniques are effective in minimizing addictive behaviors,’ says Doron Libshtein, the founder of The Mentors Channel, an online resource that allows visitors to trial various meditation or anti-stress programs before deciding which works best for them.Meditation requires individuals to manage their negative thoughts and relax the body, which helps reduce the stress that often triggers addiction to any substance whether food, alcohol, drugs or cigarettes, he explains.

‘For beginners with addiction, start by setting aside 15 to 20 minutes per day to follow your breath,’ he says. ‘Try using four counts on your inhale and eight counts on your exhale,’ he says. ‘Your breath shouldn’t be strained in any way, so if you need to work up to eight counts, that’s just fine.’ Libshtein also recommends a new wearable stress monitor and mobile app—the WellBe. The bracelet measures your pulse and when it shoots up, indicating stress, you will receive a text message with salient advice on how to de-stress, which may take the bite out of a powerful craving.