Lifestyle changes that include dietary changes are part of overcoming anxiety without medications. You can reduce the amount of anxiety you have, a great deal, and enhance your mood by picking out the right foods. There are foods that contribute to, and foods that aid in curing anxiety.
Foods to Avoid
It is important to ensure that the foods you eat aren’t contributing to anxiety. Alcoholic beverages, fried foods, unrefined sugars and high glycemic carbs are examples of these foods.
The levels of understanding you have of your anxiety are what other foods depend on. Avoid coffee if you suffer from panic attacks. Heart rate can be increased and an attack triggered by coffee. However there can be a benefit to coffee if the anxiety experienced is more general. Stress can be reduced and mood improved by limited amounts of caffeine.
Foods that Help Anxiety
Whole Grain Foods
Foods containing whole grains such as bread and whole grain pasta can be of benefit to those that are able to tolerate gluten. There are processed ingredients that come in “whole grain foods.” There are a number of benefits for anxiety sufferers found in true processed foods according to studies.
- Anxiety can result from a deficiency of magnesium. Magnesium if found in whole grains.
- Tryptophan is contained in whole grains. It turns into the calming neurotransmitter serotonin.
- There are nutrients that have been taken out of modern diets in whole grain foods that can have a powerful effect on anxiety.
- Hunger is reduced while healthy energy is created by whole grains, which are important.
Seaweed
There are many of the same benefits found in seaweed that are in whole grains. There appears to be high magnesium content as well as a rich level of nutrients. There also appears to be a rather high amount of tryptophan in kelp and other seaweed. Those with gluten sensitivity will find that a good substitute for whole grains is seaweed.
Blueberries
There is more to blueberries than just being a great tasting fruit. They are considered by many to be a super food. There are lots of vitamins, phytonutrients (plant nutrients), and a range of antioxidants believed to be beneficial for the relief of stress. Peaches have nutrients that seem to give a calming effect, which makes experts believe they fall in this category as well.
Almonds
A food that is underrated is almonds. The key nutrients to keeping your mood balanced, vitamin B12 and zinc are both found in almonds along with healthy fats and iron. A vital part of the balanced diet is healthy fats. Brain fatigue has been shown to be caused by low levels of iron contributing to both fatigue and anxiety.
Chocolate
A great food for those that live with stress and anxiety is chocolate, specifically pure dark chocolate that does not have added milks or sugars. The stress hormone cortisol that results in the symptoms of anxiety is reduced by chocolate. Mood is improved by compounds found in dark chocolate.
One of the best methods for controlling stress and anxiety is healthy eating. Adding more water to your diet is recommended as well. There are a number of studies that show as many as twenty-five percent of those that have anxiety are dehydrated with constant stress. Anxiety is known to be caused by dehydration.
Food is only one of the natural ways that anxiety can be helped. Medication and other natural methods can be tried such as relaxation therapy and deep breathing.
Tammy Mahan has 20 years of experience in the healthcare field. In her free time, she writes medical and health related articles for Healthline.com .