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please check the link that I posted above of the 76 scientific reasons. meditation really IS good for your body. I know it seems hard to imagine, but meditation is much deeper than we think ;) it truly has great power.

It works, and for much more than we're currently aware of. Read this article, quite mind blowing stuff:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/aditi-nerurkar-md-mph/meditation-genes_b_3276602.html

There is LOTS of academic research being done about the measurable benefits of meditation. Check out Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction techniques. And you don't have to believe it for it to be true, but it might be more effective. :)