4 Foods To Avoid With Anxiety

Holistic Care and Wellness care are an integral part of Mental Health. Dr. Cooper works with you on an individual basis to improve your functional health without medicine to decrease your Anxiety and Depression. Below are some items that may be making your symptoms worse.

1. Alcohol

Believe it or not, that beverage you’re drinking to quell your social anxiety is actually making it worse.

“Although it may seem like it calms your nerves, alcohol can have a negative impact on hydration and sleep, both of which can trigger anxiety symptoms when suppressed.

Alcohol changes levels of serotonin and the neurotransmitters in the brain, which makes anxiety worse. And when the alcohol wears off, you may feel even more anxious.

Try Instead: There’s no real substitute for alcohol. If you like the flavor, but don’t need the side effects, consider nonalcoholic beer. Drinks that feel special, like mocktails or sparkling water with fancy bitters, can also be good replacements in social situations.

2. Caffeine

This may not be the happiest news to you BUT, it’s the news you need!!!!!!
According to the National Coffee Association, 62 percent of Americans drink coffee on a daily basis, and the average amount per day is slightly over 3 cups per coffee drinker. But our favorite morning ritual might actually be doing more harm than good.

“High levels of caffeine can not only increase anxiety and nervousness, but an also decrease the production of the feel-good chemical serotonin in the body, causing a depressed mood,” says Palinski-Wade.

Typically, caffeine is safe in low doses. But high doses can cause unpleasant effects, namely anxiety and nervousness.
Participants who drank 300 milligrams of caffeine a day reported nearly twice as much stress. In Starbucks terms, a large (“grande”) coffee contains about 330 milligrams of caffeine.

Also keep in mind that several supplements and medications include caffeine and can contribute to anxious feelings, including St. John’s Wort, ginseng, and certain headache medications.

Try Instead: Matcha tea is an excellent alternative to coffee for a clean buzz minus the jitters. This is thanks to the L-theanine, which is known for its relaxing effects, without the drowsiness.

3. Aged, fermented, and cultured foods

A meat-and-cheese plate with a glass of red wine sounds incredibly relaxing, right?

In theory, yes, but according to science, not so much.

Whole foods like beef, milk, and grapes go gourmet when they’re cured, fermented, and cultured (see: steak, cheese, and wine).

But during the process, bacteria break down the food proteins into biogenic amines, one of which is histamine. Histamine is a neurotransmitter that aggravates digestion, hormones, and the cardiovascular and nervous systems. In susceptible individuals, it can trigger anxiety and insomnia.

Try Instead: To minimize histamine intolerance, always pick fresh, whole foods. Look for the “packed on” date of meat and fish. The less time it takes for it to get from where it was created to your table, the better.

4. Sneaky added sugar

There’s no way to avoid sugar 100 percent of the time, as it naturally occurs in many of the foods we love to eat, like fruit.

But added sugar is a contributor to overall anxiety.

“Added sugars cause your blood sugar to go on a roller coaster ride of spikes and crashes and with it, your energy also goes up and down,” says Palinski-Wade. “When blood sugar crashes, your mood sours and anxiety levels can spike.”
The body releases insulin to help absorb the excess glucose and stabilize blood sugar levels, but a sugar rush makes the body work too hard to get back to normal, causing the highs and lows.

Consuming large amounts of processed sugar can trigger feelings of worry, irritability, and sadness.
Foods that fall into the added sugar category that you should consider avoiding or minimizing don’t all look like desserts. Condiments like ketchup, certain salad dressings, pastas, and white bread can all contain high levels of added sugar.

Try Instead: Luckily, you don’t have to deny your sweet tooth if you give up processed sugar. Stevia, erythritol, and Yacon syrup are natural substitutes for sugar. Fill up your plate with fruits and naturally sweet vegetables, like sweet potatoes.