The Best Anti Anxiety Anti Depression Foods
Overcoming anxiety and depression without medications involves making lifestyle changes, and that includes changing your diet. There are foods that will help cure anxiety and foods that will contribute to anxiety, and by choosing the right foods, you can drastically cut down on the amount of anxiety you experience – and possibly improve your mood. we'll take a look at some of the foods that improve happiness and reduce stress, so that you can make better decisions about your eating habits. Please always consult a therapist or counselor if you have severe depression.
Food can help fight anxiety and depression:
Seaweed
Seaweed has many of the same benefits as whole grains. Not only is it rich in nutrients – it also appears to have a high magnesium content, and kelp and other seaweed appear to be very high in tryptophan content. Seaweed is a good alternative to whole grains for those that are gluten sensitive.
Blueberries
Blueberries are more than a delicious fruit. Many consider it to be a _superfood_. It's rich in vitamins and phytonutrients (plant nutrients), with a variety of antioxidants that are considered extremely beneficial for relieving stress. Many experts also believe that peaches fall into this category as well, because they have nutrients that appear to have a sedation (calming) effect.
Acai Berries
Acai berry is essentially the newest super food, and one that has received a great deal of press recently. It may not be the weight loss fruit that many people claimed it was, but acai berries are still rich in phytonutrients like the blueberry, and the antioxidant levels are off the charts.
Almonds
Almonds are an underrated food. They contain zinc, a key nutrient for maintaining a balanced mood – and have both iron and healthy fats. Healthy fats are an important part of a balanced diet, and low iron levels have been known to cause brain fatigue, which can contribute to both anxiety and a lack of energy.
Chocolate
Chocolate – especially pure dark chocolate without the added sugars or milks – is also a great food for those living with anxiety and stress. Chocolate reduces cortisol – the stress hormone that causes anxiety symptoms. There are also compounds inside dark chocolate that improves mood.
Foods to Avoid
There are foods that help anxiety, but just as important is making sure that you're not eating foods that contribute to anxiety. Examples of these types of foods include fried foods, high sugar content carbs, refined sugars, and alcoholic beverages. Other foods depend on how much you understand you own anxiety. If you have panic attacks, you may want to avoid coffee, because coffee can increase your heart rate and trigger an attack.
Stress
Healthy eating is one of the best ways to control anxiety and stress. In fact, one of the best things you can add to your diet is more water. Many studies have found that dehydration affects as many as 25% of those with persistent stress or more, and dehydration is known to cause more anxiety. As supplements, magnesium, vitamin B12 (and other B vitamins), zinc, and antioxidants can be beneficial for helping you deal with stress. There are also herbal supplements like rhodiola rosea and passionflower that may be valuable for anxiety.
Food
All of the above foods are beneficial for dealing with your anxiety. They provide vitamins and nutrients that are known to calm the mind and body while also increasing energy and stabilizing your mood. Combine those foods with a balanced diet that is free of fried foods and harmful ingredients and you should see a marked difference in your anxiety levels. Still, it's important to remember that understanding your anxiety is still step one. I've helped a lot of people learn to deal with their anxiety and I always recommend to make an appointment with me, I will help you:
Find out what symptoms you experience are caused by anxiety (if any).
Understand the core components of your anxiety experience (with graphs).
Provide the next steps for overcoming anxiety.