Anxiety can be a hard thing to deal with for many people. Knowing how to properly treat your anxiety can be a matter of trial and error. While medications may or may not work, you can try altering your eating habits to better control your anxiety.

Anxiety Diet Tips

A proper diet is beneficial for you in ways that go beyond easing your anxiety. Eating well helps with all functions of your body, from your heartbeat to weight maintenance to hair and nail growth. Maintaining a good diet can also help your body deal more efficiently with physical and emotional stresses. Keeping your stress level down is important when you are trying to control anxiety.

What to Eat

When planning a proper diet for anxiety relief, keep in mind the substances your body needs to feel healthy and less stressed. Diets rich in complex carbohydrates such as whole grains can help keep your blood sugar level. This protects you from physically stressful sugar crashes. Be sure to eat enough protein as well, which can also help keep your blood sugar levels in check. Protein can come from nuts, red meats, poultry, fish and tofu or other soy products. Green leafy vegetables such as spinach and kale are important to your diet as well. They supply plenty of nutrients to keep your body in working order. Fatty acids like omega-3 is a necessity for balanced nutrition. This substance comes from fish oils, which can be taken in a supplement form or eaten directly from fish. Omega-3 helps with mental well-being and helps cleanse your bloodstream.

Vitamins and Minerals

There are also vitamins you should consider when trying to control anxiety with diet. Vitamin B12 is said to help keep anxiety and depression at bay. You can take B12 supplements, or you consume it in foods such as fish, beef, pork, lamb, dairy products and liver. Similarly, zinc will help your nervous system function better and is thought to bring about calming effects. You can add zinc to your diet by eating poultry, dairy products, nuts, beans and oysters. Folic acid helps your brain stay in working order and lessens the effects of anxiety. You can eat whole grains, fruits, leafy vegetables, cereals, beans and peas to get your fill of folic acid.

What to Drink

Keep yourself properly hydrated to hold anxiety at bay. When looking for things to drink, turn to water almost all the time. If you need something sweeter, orange and grapefruit juices are good options. You may also want to drink chamomile tea from time to time. Chamomile tea is said to calm nervousness and depression, which often are a part of anxiety.

What to Avoid

Stay away from caffeine-containing beverages and other stimulants, as these substances keep your body on edge and may heighten your feelings of anxiety. Avoid processed foods, which can take nutrients away from your body, along with refined sugar, instant meals, MSG, saturated fat and preservatives. Cutting down on your overall sugar intake is also beneficial for a healthy anxiety relief diet. Remove alcohol and tobacco from your life, or at least reduce your intake as much as you can.

Source:

AnxietySecrets.com

National Center for Health and Wellness: Diet and Exercise Help Fight Anxiety