Is anxiety eating you up? 5 foods to avoid if you have anxiety.

We all know that what we eat effects our health, but did you know that what you eat can increase or decrease anxious thoughts and body responses? the gut is often considered the "second brain" because it's home to 95% of your "feel good" hormone seratonin. With more than 100 million neurons, your gut's health is essential to manage anxiety.

5 foods to avoid if you have anxiety

Coffee- The caffeine in coffee, energy drinks, and tea may wake you up, but it can also be causing a stress response in your body. Side effects of caffeine include feeling jittery, heart palpation, dehydration, as well as blocking the absorption of mood-boosting vitamins D and B. You want energy, but what you get is cortisol, a stress hormone, being released as well as adrenaline while your heart rate speeds up unnaturally. Try replacing coffee with a naturally caffeine free herbal tea or a simple and refreshing lemon and hot water.

Processed foods- Processed foods like chips and salsa, contain chemicals such as high fructose corn syrup, artificial colors, natural or artificial flavors, and artificial sweeteners. These chemicals have been shown to increase anxiety.

Fast Food- When we are stressed, fast food seems an easy answer to getting dinner on the table immediately, with little effort. But just as with highly processed foods, fast food has a long lasting effect on your health and mood. In a 2012 article published by Nutrition magazine, people who regularly consume fast foods were 51 % more likely to suffer from depression than someone who doesn't. The high concentration of trans fats and sugars, and low offering of nutrients, leaves your body tired undernourished. Lets face it: your body is smarter than you think and it knows that a big mac is not real food.

Sugar- Eating sweets gives you a short burst of energy followed by a sudden drop in blood sugar. This will not only will leave you feeling tired and sluggish, but may also make you feel anxious. When your blood sugar levels are irregular and drop from high to low, the hormones adrenaline and cortisol are released, which can cause anxiety.

Beef Jerky- Beef Jerky and other foods with the additive MSG can be a trigger to anxiety by elevating the hormone glutamate in the brain. Glutamate is an excitatory hormone that increases stress, anxiety, and inflammation in the body.

In order to function properly, your body needs the right balance of nutrients, minerals, proteins, and healthy fats. When your body is out of balance, you will be more prone to experience stress and anxiety. To help your body and mind operate at it's highest capacity, feed your body nutrient rich and detoxing foods like:

Asparagus

Spinach

Blue Berries

Avocados

Chamomile Tea

Complex Carbs

Probiotics and Prebiotics

Turkey

Organ Meats

Dark Chocolate

With what you know now, what changes do you want to make in your dietary habits?

By: Carolyn Serrano www.souldeep.me