Five minutes of meditation a day can produce measurable changes well beyond the brain. Dr. Richard Davidson describes new data showing that just 5 minutes of daily meditation for 28 days significantly reduced IL-6, a pro-inflammatory cytokine. They also observed changes in the gut microbiome including shifts in pathways involved in the production of the short-chain fatty acid butyrate, which helps maintain intestinal barrier integrity and has important effects on immune and metabolic function. Some of these changes were still detectable up to 3 months after the formal intervention ended! There's a growing body of evidence that training the mind can produce measurable biological effects throughout the body, and meaningful changes may not require hours of meditation every day. New episode with @RichieJDavidson out now!