Calm Your Mind: 6 Foods That Help Reduce Anxiety
Anxiety can be really hard to deal with. However, you are not alone in the battle. It is one of the most prevalent mental health conditions, and it affects around 7.5% of the whole global population. This is around 600 000 000 people! While going to therapy can help relieve these negative feelings there are also some other ways you can help out your body and brain deal with the stress. Your diet and lifestyle also play a huge role in your overall health, mental health included! Getting plenty of exercise, avoiding alcohol, staying hydrated, and eating the right diet can significantly increase mood. Today we will share with you some of the best foods that help reduce anxiety, so you can snack your way to success.
Anxiety can be really hard to deal with
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Foods That Help Reduce Anxiety
Food is fuel and it is healing. That’s why maintaining a good diet is crucial for our overall well-being. Of course, this means eating everything in a balanced matter. It’s not a criminal offense to enjoy a slice of cake from time to time. But different foods have different effects on your gut health, hormones, chemicals, and so much more. So, you truly are what you eat. If you have been feeling extra anxious lately, you may benefit from eating more anxiety-reducing foods like the ones below:
Food is fuel and it is healing
#Salmon
Yummy, yummy salmon! This delicious fish high in omega-3 fatty acids can really help out your feelings of anxiety. These acids play a crucial role in brain health and function, so it is no surprise they can reduce anxiety. The omega-3 acids regulate neurotransmitters and reduce inflammation, which both impact your anxiety levels. The great thing about salmon is that just a hundred grams twice a week is enough for it to work its magic.
This delicious fish high in omega-3 fatty acids
#Turmeric
This golden spice has a variety of healing properties and has been used in Ayurveda medicine for centuries. The main compound in turmeric is called curcumin. Curcumin is a powerful antioxidant that is loved for its anti-inflammatory properties. Chronic inflammation is linked with anxiety, so by eating more turmeric that has, as we mentioned, great anti-inflammatory properties you can bring in some balance. Thus elevating the symptoms of anxiety. You can add turmeric to your smoothies, curries, yogurt bowls, soups, and pretty much anywhere you like.
This golden spice has a variety of healing properties
#Dark Chocolate
Dark chocolate is not only delicious but also beneficial to your mental health. The flavonoids in dark chocolate have great antioxidant properties which can benefit both your overall brain health and your mood! Not only that but eating chocolate triggers the brain to release more endorphins, which are known as the happy hormones. These hormones help to relieve pain and stress. So, eating more dark chocolate makes you happier, thus less worried. Dark chocolate is quite dense in flavor, so even eating one small piece a day is enough to see benefits from it.
Dark chocolate is not only delicious but also beneficial to your mental health
#Berries
Blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, any berries really. Berries are high in antioxidants as well, but especially in vitamin C and anthocyanins. These compounds are amazing at protecting your brain from oxidative stress. Too much oxidative stress can cause inflammation and have a negative on brain function, which can contribute to feelings of anxiety. Eating more berries full of antioxidants that can fight off said stress will have great benefits for your mental health. Just one cup of berries per day is a great way to get in all those good antioxidants.
Berries are high in antioxidants
#Almonds
If you enjoy snacking on nuts, then you should start adding more almonds to your diet. Almonds are a great source of vitamin E, healthy fats, and magnesium! What a powerhouse. Magnesium, especially, is amazing for reducing symptoms of anxiety. Magnesium helps to regulate the neurotransmitters and support your nervous system overall. So, if you have low magnesium levels it’s more likely to have feelings of anxiety. Just one ounce of almonds daily can help increase your magnesium levels and help with your anxiety.
Almonds are a great source of vitamin E, healthy fats, and magnesium
#Yogurt
We love yogurt! This is a real superfood. Yogurt is packed with probiotics that can help out your gut. And since your gut has a connection with every other part of your body, it is no surprise that an unhealthy gut = an unhappy mind. The gut is connected with the brain, so it’s important to keep your gut happy. One great way to do that is through probiotics like yogurt! 170 grams of yogurt daily can really help out your gut flora and your mind.
Yogurt is a real superfood
These are some of the best foods that help reduce anxiety naturally. We hope you found this article useful. Now you can add more of these antianxiety foods to your diet and help out your mental health even more.
These are some of the best foods that help reduce anxiety naturally
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