Research shows the impact of meditation on health, and reveals its ability to transform biological markers and harness the mind’s influence over the body. Can your thoughts reshape your health? Dr. Hemal Patel, a leading researcher at the University of San Diego, joins Liesl Bernard to discuss the remarkable connection between meditation, consciousness, and biology. From gut microbiome shifts to mitochondrial function, Dr. Patel’s studies reveal how meditation isn’t just a tool for mental clarity, but also a powerful driver of physical change.
 
Through the groundbreaking Quantum Studies, Dr. Patel has uncovered how meditation can trigger biological improvements in a matter of days. He explains how positive emotions and focused thought patterns can counteract stress, heal trauma, and even alter the way our cells function. With a compelling mix of science and practicality, he points out the untapped potential of integrating meditation into mainstream healthcare.
 
Join Liesl and Dr. Patel as they uncover how meditation enhances mitochondrial health, influences the aging process, and reshapes our understanding of the mind-body connection—revealing transformative possibilities within our reach.
 
Quotes

“If a negative experience can create a negative emotion that creates this negative biology, could a positive experience create a positive emotion that creates a positive biology?” (11:31 | Dr. Hemal Patel)
“What I hope that our research shows is that meditation is a huge potential thing that could be added on to anything else that anyone's doing… There are so many useful things that Western medicine has created that could be optimized and utilized in a unique way. And I think meditation and these mind-body approaches take that to the ultimate next level. And so, we’re looking at how all of these things synergize in a unique way to create a healing modality that’s way more powerful than what exists right now in the world.” (15:46 | Dr. Hemal Patel)
“There’s some evidence to suggest that mitochondria may be a core conduit for creating conscious states and other things so that energy becomes a huge component to this. And they do way more than just create energy as well, and so my lab has been very focused on trying to figure out ways to understand what mitochondria do.” (20:04 | Dr. Hemal Patel)
“What interventions—like the week-long meditation retreats and other things—teach you how to do is escape that vicious cycle and to move away from that trauma that you’ve been stuck in and to think about it from a unique perspective.” (33:54 | Dr. Hemal Patel)

 
Links
Mitochondrial Efficiency Screen: https://mescreen.com/
 
Connect with Liesl Bernard:
https://kalonstaffing.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lieslbernard/

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Episode: https://liesl8.podbean.com/e/ep-08-dr-hemal-patel-unlocking-the-science-behind-how-meditation-transforms-mitochondrial-health/

Podcast: https://liesl8.podbean.com