A new study was published in the journal General Psychiatry reports that regular deep meditation could help in regulating the gut microbiome and it lowers the risks of physical and mental illness.

The small study states that the gut microbes that was found in a group of Tibetan Buddhist monks it were substantially different than those of their secular neighbors it was associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, depression and anxiety.

The study authors said in their previous research that shows the gut microbiome which includes bacteria, fungi and viruses that breaks down food in the human digestive tract which can impact the mood and behavior through the gut, brain axis.

The gut and the brain axis involves the body's immune response, hormonal signaling and stress response.

The researchers pointed out that meditation is increasingly being used so as to help in treating mental health disorders like depression, anxiety, substance abuse, traumatic stress and eating disorders as well as chronic pain.

The researchers also stated that it's not clear if meditation can alter the the composition of the gut microbiome.

Sources: https://www.healthline.com/health-news/gut-health-how-deep-meditation-can-improve-it