【英语时差8，16】静思降低心脏病危险

 Meditation¹ isn't just for people seeking spiritual enlightenment. As you're probably aware, many people use meditation to relax.   Relaxation² isn't simply a state of mind. Meditation produces physiological³ effects that actually reverse the risk of cardiovascular disease.

In one study, patients with coronary heart disease were randomly⁴ assigned to two different 16-week courses. One group took a course in health education, which included discussion of the impacts of stress, diet, and exercise on heart disease. The other group took a course in transcendental meditation. Transcendental meditation involves the use of a mantra, the repetition of a phrase or syllable⁵, in order to quiet the mind.

At the conclusion of the courses, the group that practiced meditation lowered several of their risk factors for heart disease. They lowered both their blood pressure and their resistance to insulin. Insulin resistance means that cells that need insulin are unable to use it. When insulin resistance is lowered, these cells can then use insulin in order to pick up glucose⁶ from the bloodstream. This lowers their blood glucose levels, which is important in lowering the risk of heart disease.

Lifestyle factors such as physical activity and diet certainly play important roles in determining a person's risk of heart disease, but so does stress. Stress causes the body to release hormones⁷ that increase insulin resistance. Meditation counteracts⁸ this effect of stress on insulin resistance.

Although transcendental meditation is the only method of relaxation so far to be shown to produce these specific benefits in reducing the risk of heart disease, other forms of relaxation, such as yoga or tai chi, may prove similarly beneficial.

So for your heart's sake, learn to relax.  

1 meditation   

n.熟虑，（尤指宗教的）默想，沉思，（pl.）冥想录

参考例句：

• This peaceful garden lends itself to meditation.这个恬静的花园适于冥想。
• I'm sorry to interrupt your meditation.很抱歉，我打断了你的沉思。

2 relaxation   

n.松弛，放松；休息；消遣；娱乐

参考例句：

• The minister has consistently opposed any relaxation in the law.部长一向反对法律上的任何放宽。
• She listens to classical music for relaxation.她听古典音乐放松。

3 physiological   

adj.生理学的，生理学上的

参考例句：

• He bought a physiological book.他买了一本生理学方面的书。
• Every individual has a physiological requirement for each nutrient.每个人对每种营养成分都有一种生理上的需要。

4 randomly   

adv.随便地，未加计划地

参考例句：

• Within the hot gas chamber, molecules are moving randomly in all directions. 在灼热的气体燃烧室内，分子在各个方向上作无规运动。 来自辞典例句
• Transformed cells are loosely attached, rounded and randomly oriented. 转化细胞则不大贴壁、圆缩并呈杂乱分布。 来自辞典例句

5 syllable   

n.音节；vt.分音节

参考例句：

• You put too much emphasis on the last syllable.你把最后一个音节读得太重。
• The stress on the last syllable is light.最后一个音节是轻音节。

6 glucose   

n.葡萄糖

参考例句：

• I gave him an extra dose of glucose to pep him up.我给他多注射了一剂葡萄糖以增强他的活力。
• The doctor injected glucose into his patient's veins.医生将葡萄糖注入病人的静脉。

7 hormones   

n. 荷尔蒙，激素 名词hormone的复数形式

参考例句：

• This hormone interacts closely with other hormones in the body. 这种荷尔蒙与体內其他荷尔蒙紧密地相互作用。
• The adrenals produce a large per cent of a man's sex hormones. 肾上腺分泌人体的大部分性激素。

8 counteracts   

对抗，抵消( counteract的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The drug counteracts the effects of the poison. 这种药可抵消毒物的作用。
• Offset Something that balances, counteracts, or compensates the effects of another thing. 弥补用来平衡、抵消或偿还另一财物的东西。