A study conducted by Coventry University’s Brain Belief and Behaviour lab has cemented thinking that activities like meditation and Tai Chi don’t just help our inner peace, but affect our very DNA too.

The study revealed that genes connected to inflammation in the body become less active when people practiced mindfulness or meditation.

Ivana Buric, a psychologist working on the study spoke to New Scientist: “Genes related to inflammation became less active in people practicing mind-body interventions. Genes controlled by a key protein that acts as an inflammation “on-switch” – called NF-ĸB – seem to be particularly affected.”

Inflammation is a defensive mechanism from the body but it can be damaging if it happens too much or for prolonged periods of time. Chronic inflammation is linked to conditions such as asthma, arthritis, cardiovascular disease and some cancers. It’s also connection to a range of psychiatric disorders and autoimmune conditions.

New Scientist quoted Ivana Buric explaining how disciplines like mindfulness and meditation can reduce the risk of inflammation-related conditions: “And not just psychological ones, but even the physical ones like asthma or arthritis.”

This discovering furthers the call for more investigation into the effect of lifestyle factors on disease prevention or cure.

As for whether you chose tai chi, mindfulness or meditation Steve Cole, a researcher at University of California told New Scientist that it doesn’t really matter, it’s the “mind-body intervention” that counts: “If your main purpose is to reduce inflammation to improve health, it seems it really doesn’t matter which one you choose”.