How Some Healthy Foods Could Be Stressing You Out
Do you ever find yourself struggling with anxiety, and you can’t understand what could have triggered it? Sometimes, our anxiety has a clear trigger. Other times, it can seem to come out of nowhere. The evidence is growing—food sensitivities are linked to our mental health. Who knew that certain foods could trigger anxiety. Furthermore, who knew that a holistic diet could help alleviate it?
Do I Have Anxiety?
If you suffer from anxiety, or high stress levels, here are some symptoms to watch out for:
Frequent headaches
Hot flushes
Occasional dizziness or lightheadedness
A lingering feeling of doom
You’re grinding your teeth, even at night
Your heart races
You’re not interested in the things you used to care about
Low libido
These are all symptoms of anxiety, and if you have many of them or if they’re particularly profound, they could also be part of the deeper depressive disorder.
How Can Food Be Related to My Mood?
We all know some simple ways that food can affect our mood. We have all heard of a “sugar rush,” the boost of energy, and an uplift in mood after consuming foods high in sugar. But the connection between mental health and diet is more profound than this.
Food and Hormones
What we eat has a strong effect on our hormone production, and our hormones control our mood. The body needs healthy fats, in particular, in order to produce the right hormones and accomplish proper signaling between nerves. This is one reason that low-fat diets and depression often go hand in hand.
The Gut
We’re just starting to learn how important our gut is to our overall health and well-being, and how the best principles of natural health can help. For example, 90% of our body’s serotonin is produced in our guts. Serotonin is the main chemical our body produces to help us feel happy. If our gut is out of order, it’s hard not to feel anxious and depressed.
Inflammation and Anxiety
Inflammation is the body’s natural response to anything it sees as an invader. This invader could be a bacteria or virus; it could even just be a food that our body can’t tolerate. There is a strong link between high levels of inflammation and anxiety.
A Holistic Approach
While mental health can be complicated, an easy place to start if you’re struggling with anxiety (or even depression) is to take a more holistic approach toward the food you eat.
The holistic approach focuses on minimizing inflammation, promoting a healthy gut, and eliminating/avoiding toxins. Our bodies are sensitive to the things we ingest—some more than others.
Here are just a few of the common foods or substances that can wreak havoc within our bodies, and in turn, cause anxiety:
Dairy
Refined sugars and grains
High fructose corn syrup
Gluten
Caffeine
Processed/preserved foods
Food and drinks with sulfites
Foods or wine with high tannin levels
What Should I Try?
While this list only contains a fraction of the potential culprits, there are a number of things that could be affecting your state of well-being. Everyone’s body is different, and sometimes the best approach is trial and error.
Start by focusing on a wholesome and balanced diet, while eliminating questionable food groups. Eliminate processed foods. Try eliminating the occasional glass of wine or other alcoholic beverages. Replace your morning cup of coffee with a full glass of water.
Consider keeping a journal. Keep track of what you eat and how you feel each day. Over time, this can give you a better idea of what your triggers are and what you should avoid.
Want to Learn More?
Visit Holistic-Momma.com for more information about natural health solutions as well as recipes and other ideas for improving your health!
Originally posted 2019-11-30 08:00:00.
