Did you know that regular exercise, guided meditation, and  acupuncture all increase the levels of endorphins produced by the hypothalamus?

 
 

Found this nice bit on Guided Meditation over at about.com

Relaxation will reduce the blood level of noradrenaline, adrenaline and cortisol, and promotes the secretion of endorphins and other opoid (opium like) neuropeptides in the brain cells of hypothalamus. Lower levels of noradrenaline, adrenaline and cortisol can be beneficial to gastric ulcers (stress can aggravate gastric ulcers) and higher levels of opoid neuropeptides can modulate pain threshold, immune activity and on the bronchial smooth muscle tone.

For more befefits related to guided meditation check out the links to the left of the screen.