Are You a Texan With Anxiety? Here Are Some Foods That Could Soothe

The news outlet USA Today has recently reported the "Top 10 States Suffering with Anxiety in America". When one of my daughters or a co-worker says "I'm struggling with anxiety today!", I sometimes say, "Anxiety is that stress and pressure you feel on your shoulders and around your neck when you don't know what you're doing."

Now, before you start yelling at me as my daughters do, I admit that my famous saying "Not knowing what you're doing produces anxiety" comes from personal experience. A lot of times anxiety could be confused with my other famous word "hangry" (hungry + angry). Speaking of "hanger", I recently learned that some foods can help lower anxiety fast.

So if you visit my studio and see some fruits and vegetables lying around, you'll understand why. TheBestBrainPossible.com, Dr. Kinjal Kanani, and the Mayo Clinic have educated me on how to keep my brain healthy and my anxiety under control.

One human behavior that many of us use to cope with anxiety and keep things under control - albeit  temporarily - is eating. Eating healthy foods is not the only thing to do, however; you may have to make some lifestyle changes.

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To start, try these steps:

1. Limit your caffeine intake. Try to stay away from caffeinated beverages as they make you feel jittery. This affects your central nervous system and sleep patterns.

2. Eat a breakfast that's high in protein. Eating a protein-rich breakfast will keep your blood sugar steady.

3. Eat more complex carbohydrates. Complex carbohydrates are found in oatmeal, whole grain breads, and whole grain cereals. Stay clear of simple carbohydrates.

4. Drink a lot of water. Even mild dehydration can and does affect your mood.

5. Avoid consuming alcohol. Alcohol consumption may feel calming at first, however as it is processed, it makes your brain feel edgy. Plus alcohol interferes with your sleep.
Source: Mayo Clinic

Also try to pay attention to food sensitivities and allergies. Eat well-balanced healthy meals. The anti-anxiety foods listed below are found on AARP.org, Harvard Health, and BestBrainFoodPossible.com.

Seven foods that help calm anxiety:

• Fish - Fatty fishes, such as salmon, are rich in omega-3 fatty acids.
• Dark chocolate - Flavonoids are a large group of plant-based antioxidants.
• Berries - Berries are rich in vitamin C which is an essential nutrient for the brain.
• Bananas - Bananas can reduce anxiety because they’re natural beta-blockers.
• Asparagus - Asparagus is rich in folate.
• Kiwis - Kiwis are rich in folate, vitamin C, and E.
• Chamomile tea - Chamomile aids in relaxation, anxiety, depression, and insomnia.

Also, check out the video below as it goes a little deeper into healthy nutritious foods that can help relieve anxiety, depression, insomnia, and several other symptoms.