Ramadan is the perfect time to start living more mindfully by embracing the present moment and investing all your attention into whatever is happening. But most of all, you sustain an absolute awareness over your mind and body. For instance, eating Iftar; you should separate yourself from all distractions such as technology or multitasking to instead focus on the act of eating, savoring the taste, and truly enjoying the meal in its entirety. This is just one of the many ways mindfulness can play a role in your everyday life.

Improves brain function

According to a Harvard study conducted by Sara Lazar and her team, it was found that meditation and mindfulness changes the composition of the brain. Participants under an eight-week experiment called Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) were found to have an increased volume of cortical thickness and improved cognitive function in the hippocampus, an area of the brain that dictates one’s ability to learn and sustain memory. On the other hand, the amygdala, which houses fear and anxiety, diminished in volume and made participants feel less susceptible to stressful stimuli.

Fights stress and sickness

As stress has the ability to damage the brain, it can also negatively affect the immune system by stimulating toxic cortisol levels. Mindfulness can combat stress and cortisol by helping the body return to a relaxed emotional and physical state that will result in kick starting the production of dopamine and serotonin, the natural painkillers of the body, instead. Moreover, the mind-body connection of mindfulness increases activity in the left side of the brain, which regulates the overall efficiency of the immune system.

(Author Bio: Trevor is part of the content marketing team for Medically Assisted and a recovering addict for over 5 years. Since his recovery began, he has enjoyed using his talent for words to help spread treatment resources, addiction awareness, and general health knowledge.)