Sometimes there is just too much noise in your head. Stress places an additional demand on our bodies, in terms of nutrition. In times of (for most of us, constant) stress, there is an increase in adrenal gland activity (stress hormones) and utilization of vitamins and minerals, e.g. vitamin C, vitamin E, magnesium, potassium and micronutrients, which further accelerates our bodies metabolism of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. This is our body producing quick energy to overcome stress. We need better nutrition when we are stressed or dealing with anxiety, but unfortunately it may be our natural reaction to do just the opposite and eat less or eat junk food as a coping mechanism. Research shows that some foods act as natural calming agents for anxiety, while others can send your mind into overdrive.
If youre struggling to keep anxiety at bay even though you meet regularly with a therapist, take your medication as prescribed (if youve taken that route), attempt meditation and have a good support system, theres still some work left for you to do !
Effective anxiety management involves one other very significant factor: your diet. If you havent tried tweaking what you eat then you may be missing an important opportunity to support your anxiety.
There is a clear and important connection between the brain and the gut, Jodi Godfrey, MS, RD, a health and nutrition educator reiterates Researchers now refer to the gut as the second brain. When essential nutrients are not sufficiently available, there is a direct effect on the production of neurotransmitters and brain chemistry that can increase or lessen anxiety-related behaviors. Read: [7 Ways to Fully Support Your Gut Health]
If making changes in your diet to ease your anxiety seems daunting, it doesnt have to be. The choices you make when it comes to food is a straightforward, positive lifestyle change for your bodyandbrain. Just start somewhere. Literally the two most important dietary changes for anyone who has anxiety to make is to plan meals around whole foods Read: [5 Reasons You Need Whole Foods] and lowering/eliminating the amount of sugar - sweets and snack foods. Read: [Sympathy for the Devil: Overcoming Cravings] It doesnt have to be huge changes all at once. The modifications you can make to your diet are as simple as swapping out foods that could be spiking your anxiety (sugar, caffeine) for foods that may lessen the severity of your symptoms (whole foods, healthy fats.)
If these are already in your diet, just increase them. If they arent yet, try introducing these 7 simple foods (and a couple ideas on where to swap them) into your diet:
1. Asparagus
Many studies going back to the 1960s indicate that many people who suffer from anxiety and depression may have a folate deficiency. Asparagus is one vegetable that contains a valuable amount of this mood-boosting nutrient. One cup alone provides two-thirds of your daily recommended folate value.
Food Swap: Asparagus Spears Instead of Fries[Restaurants] Ditch the French Fries and ask for asparagus (or any root vegetable) as a side dish. If you tend to snack on fries, consider this great substitute. [Home] Saut, steam, or even grill yourself up some asaparagus as snacks or side dishes with any dinner.
2. Avocado
Vitamin B6 helps the body make several neurotransmitters, including serotonin, which influences our happiness and overall mood. The B vitamins, including thiamine, riboflavin, and niacin, have positive effects on the nervous system. Deficiencies of these vitamins have been linked to increased anxiety in some people. Avocados are rich in stress-relieving B vitamins and heart-healthy fat that may help to calm anxiety. Vitamin E is a nutrient that is important for vision, reproduction and maintaining healthy skin. Because vitamin E is fat-soluble its only found in foods like nuts and avocados that have a high-fat content.
Food Swap: Avocado is your new banana. [Restaurants] Many restaurants are now using avocados or have them as a side option. Order these! [Home] Use it as a snack on the go. Spread it on rice cakes, tortilla chips (minimalist guacamole, anyone?) or toast instead of butter and jam.
3. Blueberries
When were anxious and stressed, our bodies crave vitamin C to help repair and protect our cells, and blueberries are packed full of C. Those innocent looking little blueberries are bursting with antioxidants and vitamin C. One studyexamined the effects of oral vitamin C supplements on anxiety in a group of students and found that antioxidants may be useful for both the preventionandreduction of anxiety.
Food Swap: Blueberries Instead of Sugary SweetsReaching for (white, refined) sugar from sweets when hunger strikes causes the brain to work at a sub-optimal level and puts you at greater risk for depressive symptoms associated with anxiety. (It also affects your immune system negatively.) The sweetness from blueberries is a better option acting as a positive immune booster; added sugars throw off the healthy bacterial balance in the gut that may increase anxiety, Godfrey says. However, its easier to crave sweets than blueberries, so check out the blog [Sympathy for the Devil: Overcoming Cravings.] [Restaurants] Avoid dessert. Get my eating out guide for free here. [Home] Make fruit especially blueberries when in season, one of your go-to snacks. Eat them on their own or in a fruit salad, with granola and yogurt or in smoothies.
4. Turkey
Ever heard of tryptophan? Its the nutrient in turkey that puts you to sleep after a big turkey Thanksgiving meal (or the hundreds of turkey sandwiches the days following.) Okay, its a little more than that. Tryptophan is an amino acid that the body needs to produce the neurotransmitter serotonin, which helps regulate sleep and mood. According to theUniversity of Michigan, tryptophan may help reduce anxious feelings. Tryptophan is a precursor to serotonin, an important neurotransmitter that the brain produces that plays a role in our sleep, appetite, and impulse control. We know that increased levels of serotonin can actually help elevate mood, but that our serotonin production is limited by the availability of tryptophan. Supporting our gut health can make an impact too [Read: 7 Ways to Fully Support Your Gut Health] If you dont like or dont eat turkey, you can find tryptophan in nuts, salmon, eggs, soy products, and spinach.
FoodSwap: Lean Turkey Instead ofFried Chicken[Restaurants] Avoid the temptation of picking up fried chicken on your way home from the drive-thru by prepping your meals in advance. [Read: The Fastest Way to Food Prep] This way you can reap the benefits of tryptophan found in real food, not fast food. [Read: Welcome to the Machine: Become a Liberated Eater.] Fried foods introduce unhealthy fats and counteract the good from the tryptophan that may help calm you when anxiety is looming. If youre out at a restaurant look for the baked options, not fried. [Home] Planning a meal with turkey diced into quinoa or brown rice and adding veggies will provide a wide range of healthy nutrients and support our brain and sound sleep.
5. Yogurt
You might not be surprised to learn that fermented food like yogurt is good for your brain. After all, weve known for a while about the gut-brain connection. But more recently new science about the connections between the two are coming out at an exciting rate. A whole new territory of science! A link has been found between the consumption of fermented, probiotic foods and a reduction in social anxiety.The best yogurts contain live and active cultures are guaranteed to have 100 million probiotic cultures per gram or about 25 billion probiotic cultures in a cup. Other probiotic foods: pickles, sauerkraut, kombucha, and miso. You can get cultures here or learn more in the local fermentation club on Facebook - Fermenting the Okanagan.
Food Swap: Yogurt and fruit/granola instead of Milk and CerealMix up your breakfast by swapping out milk for yogurt with your cereal. Read: [Make Breakfast Crazy Simple] If yogurt really isnt your thing, you can add kombucha to your morning breakfast routine, or try incorporating raw, fermented sauerkraut or a pickle into your daily sandwich. Miso, a traditional Japanese seasoning, can be a quick easy lunch or breakfast (just mix with hot water) or base for soups or noodle dishes!
6. Salmon
Omega-3 fatty acids are a necessary addition when it comes to foods that help with anxiety. You can find omega-3 fatty acids in foods like salmon, chia seeds, soybeans, and walnuts as well as cold-pressed olive oil (buy it from an olive oil shop, not the grocery or drug store.) Our brain requires the right dietary fats to function properly and for us to eat enough of the beneficial fats that support a healthy brain-gut microbiome. A big step looks like replacing red meat with seafood. Check out [The Easy Guide to Fats] for more direction here.
Food Swap: Salmon Instead of Steak For those non vegans/vegetarians, a juicy steak might be hard to pass up, but a diet rich in the omega-3 fatty acids found in salmon helps keep cortisol and adrenaline from spiking when youre feeling tense. Experiment by trying out different spices and flavor combinations when cooking salmon. Start simple. Sprinkle the fish with salt, pepper and garlic and top with some thinly sliced lemon. Salmon at lunch is just as good as salmon at dinner. Check out [The Fastest & Healthiest Lunch Ideas]
7. Brown Rice
A lot of us dont like it. The texture is weird, or its too mushy, or we cant seem to cook it right. Or it takes too long to cook. The fact is, brown rice simply has more minerals than the white, refined rice. Now, in my good better best is white rice better than junk food loaded with additives and sugar? Sure! But were talking about the BEST foods for anxiety, and we want as many minerals in our diet to support our brain. So get the rice cooker, or google the best brown rice recipe and try it again. Or maybe you like brown rice but only stir-fried the next day with veggies. Experiment. Its a complex carbohydrate that will help balance your blood sugar (a huge key for anxiety) and load you up with minerals.
Food Swap: Brown rice instead of pasta or white rice. See above.
I know anxiety can be challenging. It isnt a one-step-fixes-all and there is never going to be one thing that works as a cure for you. Its all about experimenting and taking time to find what combination of therapies (including holistic eating) is going to work for you. In case you want to keep reading, here are some more resources from my blog collection for your anxiety.
Top 5 Supplements for Calming Anxiety
7 Food & Lifestyle Shifts to Calm Your Anxiety
book a free chat with raina5 Self-Care Rituals You Need in Your Life (& my anxiety Story)
xo,
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