According to a 2009 University of Sussex study, reading daily for at least 15 minutes can reduce stress levels by 68% and therefore reduce premature ageing of the heart. This is more effective than listening to music or drinking hot tea.
How so? Reading has been shown to lower blood pressure and lower heart rate, which helps the body’s muscles relax.
Another benefit of reading that makes the beneficial effects on the body possible is, at least in the case of literature, the focus on the imaginative area of our mind. As we read, the brain almost involuntarily transposes the text into images which brings the individual closer to the subconscious area. Activating these areas of the brain can lead to brief moments of daydreaming, which are extremely beneficial for reducing levels of the stress hormone cortisol.