Stress wreaks havoc on our hormones, leading to a cascade of health woes. Enter 20-minute meditation: a concise antidote endorsed by endocrinologists for restoring balance across body and mind. At its core, meditation rewires the brain’s stress response. fMRI scans show reduced amygdala activity—the fear center—and heightened hippocampal volume, crucial for memory and emotion. Hormonally, it normalizes the HPA axis, ensuring cortisol peaks and troughs appropriately while boosting melatonin for superior sleep. Women benefit immensely, with studies linking it to regulated cycles, while men see testosterone stabilization.
