Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital studied how deep relaxation by meditation, deep breathing or repetitive prayer effects the genes involved in the stress response.
They found relaxation had a beneficial effect on genes involved in inflammation, cell death and molecules that damage tissue.
The positive effect was greater for people who had been practicing deep relaxation in the long-term.
Researchers are now studying whether deep relaxation can help people with stress-related disorders.
In other health news, drinking green tea could help your heart, according to European researchers.
Study participants drank either green tea, a caffeinated beverage, or hot water.
Researchers then measured how much one of their major arteries dilated.
When arteries dilate , it's most likely the result of increased blood flow which is a good indicator of the health of cells lining the arteries.
Researchers found people drinking green tea saw a big improvement in artery dilation.