Beating Anxiety

Overcoming anxiety 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.

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 to drink 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 for foods, anything with 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 kava and passionflower that may be valuable for anxiety.

Some of the top foods to relax your mind are:

Cashews - two handfuls a day (works like Prozac!). Blueberries, Acai Berries and Peaches have a calming effect. Almonds are high in zinc (a nutrient for maintaining a balanced mood) and iron (low iron levels have been known to cause brain fatigue, which can contribute to both anxiety and a lack of energy). Chocolate (Cacao especially) reduces cortisol – the stress hormone that causes anxiety symptoms. And one that might not be easy to find, but is loaded with magnesium and iron (more than every other type of fruit and vegetable) Maca Root, found in health food stores. 

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.