Foods to avoid if you have anxiety

A balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle are fundamental for proper mind-body balance. Nevertheless, each body responds differently to the components present in certain foods, which can trigger anxiety.

For this reason, it’s difficult to determine a minimum standard for its daily consumption.

1. Alcohol

Alcohol alters your serotonin levels, the feel-good hormone, as well as neurotransmitters in the brain, which makes anxiety worse.

Once the alcohol wears off, you’ll feel even more anxious.

And while it may appear to calm the nerves, alcohol can have a negative impact on hydration and sleep, often triggering anxiety symptoms as a result.

2. Coffee and caffeinated soft drinks

Coffee and soft drinks contain a high caffeine content, a substance that stimulates the central nervous system.

Its consumption in high doses can result in irritability, insomnia, anxiety and nervousness; in addition, it also decreases the production of serotonin and can lead to depressive states.

Don’t consume more than three cups of coffee a day, or it will likely start aggravating your anxiety.

3. Energy drinks

These drinks usually contain caffeine or taurine and should be eliminated from the diet, as they provide no benefit and have been linked to various health problems.

4. Tea

Certain types of tea, such as black tea or green tea, contain a large amount of theine. Theine has an action similar to caffeine at the brain level, meaning it’s another food that aggravates anxiety and whose consumption should be limited to one cup a day in people who suffer from the disorder.

5. Biscuits

Foods generally high in sugar, such as biscuits, cakes and pastries, can create spikes in blood sugar, which is associated with anxiety.

The initial energy boost that comes from consuming sugar causes many people to turn to sugary foods.

However, once the energy boost has peaked, sugar levels drop rapidly.

Continuous rises and falls in blood sugar can promote the release of adrenaline and cortisol into the bloodstream, which causes anxiety.

If you feel like eating something sweet, try fresh fruit: peaches, blueberries, plums, cherries, nectarines, and persimmons are better options.

6. Chocolate

Chocolate contains theobromine, a compound from the same family as caffeine, which can trigger anxiety.

It is common to consume commercial chocolate which is high in refined sugar, another factor that triggers this emotional disorder.

7. Cold meats

Foods with high amounts of saturated and trans fats, such as cold meats, can cause anxiety or accentuate it in those who already suffer from it.

You should opt for a Mediterranean diet as much as possible and avoid the consumption of saturated fats and high amounts of salt, sugar and refined flours.

Such products can affect the neural substrates that underpin anxiety.

8. Ginseng

Ginseng is a plant commonly used as a nutritional supplement, with various studies supporting the fact that it can improve cognitive function, sports performance and reduce fatigue too.

However, among its adverse effects are nervousness and anxiety.

Tip: You can also regulate your nervous system with natural food supplements for anxiety.

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