5 Foods To Avoid If You Have Anxiety

We all know that it’s important to eat a healthy diet so we can lose weight, live longer and, hopefully, age well. But what people don’t often talk about is that foods that can affect your mood.

Eating the right foods, such as omega-3 fatty acids, foods high in protein and vegetables that contain antioxidants can help us fight off depression and other mood disorders. On the flip side, eating the wrong types of food can contribute to depression and anxiety, and even worsen existing symptoms.

If you suffer from any sort of mood disorder or often have panic attacks, it’s important to know which foods may trigger these symptoms so you can avoid eating them and help ease your symptoms.

RELATED: How To Explain Anxiety To Someone Who Doesn’t Get It

As a rule of thumb, foods that are typically regarded as bad for you often can trigger mood swings or depressive symptoms over time. If you suffer from anxiety, try avoiding the following five foods that can end up making you feel worse.

We always recommend that you first discuss any health-related issues with your doctor.

1. Coffee

Have you ever consumed too much coffee and gotten the jitters? Coffee can worsen existing anxiety and even cause anxious feelings in people who don’t normally suffer from them.

This is because caffeine increases cortisol levels, making you feel stressed even if there’s nothing to sweat about. The relationship is so strong, in fact, that lower intakes of caffeine (less than 6 cups a day) is linked to less depressive symptoms and lower risk of suicide (U.S. National Library of Medicine).

coffee photo
Photo by Matt Biddulph

2. Alcohol

Though you might be tempted to drink a glass of wine or two to get through your nerves, alcohol may actually worsen your mood and contribute to your anxiety, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Symptoms can worsen if you are experiencing any sort of withdrawal, and alcohol also has an effect on your nervous system, including increasing your heart rate.

alcohol photo
Photo by //ZERO

3. Sugar

Just like alcohol, you may use a doughnut or pint of ice cream to soothe your feelings, but you may be unknowingly causing your negative feelings to worsen.

Sugar is known to cause a spike and drop in blood sugar levels, which can wreak havoc on your moods. Drastic swings in blood sugar can increase cortisol and adrenaline levels, which have been known to cause panic attacks.

sugar photo

Photo by condesign (Pixabay)

4. Trans Fat

Trans fat, also known as hydrogenated fat, is not only one of the worst foods for your health, but also for your moods.

Studies have found that trans fat, which is found in some junk foods like french fries, packaged snacks and candy, increases your risk of depression. A study, published in the International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutritionexamined the brains of rats and found that prolonged consumption of trans fat led to more anxiety-like symptoms.

 

potato chips photo

Photo by PDPics (Pixabay)

5. Gluten

Though you may not necessarily have Celiac Disease, some people have an intolerance to gluten that can show up in the form of anxiety or panic attacks.

According to Anxiety.org, a nonprofit dedicated supporting research related to anxiety disorders, avoiding gluten can help improve mental health. In separate study, it was found that those with gluten sensitivities are more prone to feeling anxious after consuming wheat products. If you suspect that gluten could be worsening your anxiety, try removing gluten from your diet and see if your symptoms subside.

bread photo
Photo by Glory Foods

Photo by Tavallai

Food, Health, Wellness & Fitness
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About the Author
Carina Wolff
Carina is a health and wellness journalist based in Los Angeles. When she’s not writing, doing yoga, or exploring mountains and beaches, she spends her time cooking and creating recipes for her healthy food blog, Kale Me Maybe. Carina is also an ongoing writer for Bustle, Reader's Digest, FabFitFun, and more.

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