A team from the University of Florida found that meditation and yoga programs, or Inner Engineering practices, dramatically boost the body’s immune system.

Vijayendran Chandran began practicing meditation for 21 minutes a day after his wife suggested he give it a chance.

They discovered genetic differences between samples taken before and after the intense meditation retreat.

Specifically, 220 genes linked to the body’s immune system were more active after participants attended the Inner Engineering meditation retreat.

This included 68 genes that have a connection to interferon signaling, which helps the body combat viruses and cancer.

“This is the first time anyone has shown that meditation can boost your interferon signaling.

Recent studies have also found interferon signaling imbalances in patients with severe cases of COVID-19 and multiple sclerosis (MS).

Mediation activated 97 percent of the virus fighting interferon genes, compared to 76 percent in mild COVID patients and 31 percent in severe cases.

Likewise, meditation proved to be more beneficial than traditional interferon treatments for MS patients.

Study authors add they need conduct more studies on this and hope to determine if less intense meditation regimens over a longer term might produce similar beneficial immune system effects