Food for Anxiety Relief
There is a quote by Hippocrates that says, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.”
Throughout the years that I’ve had anxiety and panic attacks, I’ve never taken any medication for them. I’ve always opted to try natural remedies to reduce daily stress and anxiety.
Here’s a list of different food I try to eat weekly for anxiety relief.
Eggs
A deficiency in folic acid and B12 Vitamins can cause depression. Eggs contain folic acid, B12 vitamins as well as lecithin and choline that improve nervous system function.
Avocado
Some studies show that anxiety may be caused by a B vitamin deficiency. Avocados are rich is B vitamins that help produce brain cells and healthy nerves. In addition to B Vitamins, avocados also contain monounsaturated fat which helps lower blood pressure.
Asparagus
Low levels of folic acid can bring on depression. Foods that contains folic acid such as asparagus helps boosts the mood and fight depression.
Oranges
Fruits that contain Vitamin C can help lower cortisol and blood pressure. It has also been proven to reduce mental responses to stress. Additionally Vitamin C gives the immune system a boost.
Cashews
Cashews contain zinc, a mineral that helps reduce anxiety. Zinc affects the nerve chemical that influences mood. Our bodies can’t store zinc, so it’s important to consume foods that contain zinc daily.
Seeds
Seeds such as pumpkin seeds, flaxseeds, sunflower seeds, and chia seeds contain magnesium. Magnesium can help regulate emotions and alleviate depression. It can also give you a boost to combat fatigue and irritability.
Pistachios
Nuts such as pistachios reduce stress by lowering heart rate and blood pressure. Nuts have key phytonutrients that give antioxidant support for cardiovascular health.
Berries
There are antioxidants and phytonutrients in berries such as blueberries that help improve the body’s response to stress. People who consume berries also get a boost in their white blood cells that are important for the immune system that help counter stress. Blueberries in particular contain an antioxidant called anthocyanin that provides sharper cognition.
Salmon
Salmon contains omega-3 fatty acids which have anti-inflammatory properties that counteract bad effects of stress hormones. Omega-3 fatty acids can also enhance your mood. Studies show that patients who took antidepressants as well as omega-3 fatty acids improved much more than the people who just took antidepressants alone.
Turkey
Amino acids found in turkey help produce serotonin, the chemical that creates feeling of well-being and happiness. Foods that contain protein also have tryptophan, which is a precursor to serotonin that also have a calming effect.
Yogurt
Bacteria in the gut may induce stress symptoms. Consuming healthy probiotics like yogurt can reduce activity in the brain in areas that handle emotion and aid in stress relief. The protein in yogurt also stimulates production of norepinephrine and dopamine in the brain.
Spinach
Spinach contains folate, which produces dopamine in the body that can help keep you calm. Spinach also contains magnesium that is used to help treat ADHD and prevents anxiety.
Chamomile Tea
There are compounds in Chamomile that bind to the brain receptors to calm you down. There is has been a study at the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center and showed that patients that had General Anxiety Disorder took chamomile supplements for eight weeks and had a major decrease in anxiety symptoms compared to patients taking placebo.
Chocolate
Consuming dark chocolate reduces the stress hormones. The antioxidants in cocoa relaxes the walls of the blood vessels, improving circulation and lowering blood pressure.
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