While experts have professed the benefits of meditation for many years, science has now put forward the link between the age old practice and its acclaimed health benefits. A recent study looked at how mediation helps the body manage stressful situations and an individual's psychology under pressure.

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According to Live Science, people with anxiety disorders took a course in mindfulness meditation which lasted eight weeks. During the course, the participants were taught to remain focused on the present and to accept difficult feelings. The scientists discovered that the participants had a reduced level of stress hormone in their systems after the course.

To further clarify the findings, another group of participants, who took a class in stress management that did not include meditation, were also observed. Participants in this class did not show a reduction in the stress hormone or the markers of inflammation.

The study, which was published in the journal of Psychiatric Research was led by Dr. Elizabeth Hoge. Dr. Hoge said in a statement that mindfulness meditation is a low stigma attached form of treatment and is relatively inexpensive. She added that the findings strengthen the belief that meditation could help manage stress, the Telegraph reported.

Furthermore, previous studies compared those who meditated with those who did not meditate. This most recent study suggests that more research is needed to determine if the benefits of meditation were a mere placebo effect -– meaning that participants felt the treatment was successful rather than a recorded psychological effect from the treatment.

The new study included more than 80 participants who were diagnosed with anxiety disorder. The participants were randomly asked to take part in either the mindfulness meditation course or the stress management class. The class included overall general suggestions for eating healthy, time management, and sleep habits.

Participants underwent lab tests before and after the courses. The participants also went through blood tests to identify markers of levels of stress. In conclusion, those who meditated showed a reduced level of the stress hormone and markers of inflammation as well.

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