If you are anxious by nature, you should know about the role diet plays in either exacerbating or reducing anxiety.
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the United States, affecting 40 million adults. And while there are numerous therapies and medications to help treat anxiety, diet is one of the most important factors to manage anxiety and feel calmer.
There are some basic dietary principles to follow to lessen anxiety, many of which overlap with eating a sensible and healthy diet in general. Specifically:
- Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated (five 12 oz. glasses of water per day is recommended)
- Limit or avoid alcohol and caffeine
- Eat a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, and legumes
- Avoid refined sugars and carbs (found in candy, cakes, chips, crackers, white bread, pasta, soda, packaged sweets and snacks, etc.) which spike blood sugar and make you feel jittery
But beyond these overarching guidelines, there are specific foods you should be eating to induce a state of peace and calm. These are the foods that have been shown specifically to reduce anxiety:
- Foods high in magnesium including leafy greens like spinach and swiss chard, seeds (squash and pumpkin seeds), lima beans…
