5 Foods That Help Ease Anxiety

Have you ever been stressed and drowning in anxiety that you turned to food for comfort, but it never helped? These five foods are proven to aid anxiety.

You're not alone if you prefer to indulge when you're going through an emotionally challenging time. Whether you're feeling the pressure to meet a deadline or anxiously awaiting a reply from your crush, you're probably drowning in anxiety about something. Your taste buds may be craving something sweet like ice-cream or something greasy like a pizza.

While there is nothing wrong with indulging in delicious treats, emotional eating may help make you feel better at that moment, but it's known to lead you to feel worse in the long run. You could wake up the next day with acne or feeling extremely boated, and now eating all that ice-cream may not have been worth it.

Anxiety is a very common and normal condition millions of people have. It leads a person to be excessively nervous, have fear, apprehension, obsessive thoughts, and worries.

The symptoms may vary amongst different people as well as the triggers. It may only be of concern to a person if it starts to affect their daily routine, and usually, the symptoms must last more than six months to be diagnosed.

It can affect a person's emotions, mindset, and physical behavior. There are many ways to ease your anxiety and stress, changing your lifestyle; especially your diet, you will begin to see a difference. These are five foods to incorporate into your diet that have been proven to help reduce anxiety.

1. Berries - Berry Away The Stress With Some Berries

Blueberries, strawberries, raspberries are just some of the berries you can indulge your sweet tooth on if you're feeling anxious. These are nature’s candy, and not only do berries taste delicious, but they're packed with antioxidants, Vitamin C, and other nutrients that are good for your body.

You can have them frozen or fresh, pop them into smoothies and start your day off on a healthy note. Your skin will be glowing, and the extra Vitamin C will be combating the stress and anxiety you may be feeling. In general, fruits are known to flit your mood up and are a much healthier alternative to eating mass-produced sweets.

2. Spices

What you eat is so vital in aiding how you feel. Eating foods packed with wholesome spices can uplift your mood and make you feel better. A common spice known to help in reducing inflammation, stress, and reducing anxiety is Turmeric.

This spice is bright and beautiful in color, so just looking at it will uplift your mood. But it also contains an active ingredient called curcumin. Turmeric helps with lowering inflammation, stress, and anxiety. A little can go a long way, so it's easy to add it into any meals, smoothies, or can be enjoyed in a golden milk iced latte.

3. Nuts - Anxiety Driving You Nuts Have Some Nuts

If you don't have a nut allergy, experiment and try out different types of nuts, for example, almonds, pecans, walnuts, etc. Once you figure out what your tastebuds like, voilá, you have a healthy snack that will help with your anxiety.

Research shows that when a person lacks magnesium, it reduces the neurotransmitter serotonin level in the brain. Seratonin is the key hormone that affects the whole body, and it stabilizes the mood, feelings of well-being, and happiness. Increasing the intake of certain nuts which are packed with magnesium and other antioxidants, may be an effective treatment for anxiety and inflammation in the body.

4. Chamomile Tea

Okay, so tea isn't a food, but it's one of the most effective ways to calm oneself down. Camomile Tea is a herbal remedy. It has no caffeine. It is packed with anti-inflammatory, antioxidants, and relaxant properties, which is why it is a go-to for many people in calming themselves and others down.

A recent study found that chamomile did reduce anxiety symptoms. Because camomile tea has no caffeine, it can calm someone down and is perfect for helping them fall asleep at night, which is usually when our anxiety is working in overdrive.

5. Dark Chocolate

If your go-to when you're riddled with anxiety is chocolate, dark chocolate is the way to go. Experts have speculated that dark chocolate might help reduce stress and anxiety, but many of these studies may just be observational.

Although it is still unclear how dark chocolate reduces stress, it is a rich source of polyphenols, especially flavonoids, and is a good magnesium source. One study suggested that flavonoids might reduce neuroinflammation and cell death in the brain and improve blood flow. Chocolate has a high tryptophan content, which the body uses to turn into mood-enhancing neurotransmitters, such as serotonin in the brain.