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Anxiety Relief: What to Include in Your Diet

Reviewed by Dr.Vijaykumar Kamat & written by Dr. Vijay Kumar Kamat.

What is Anxiety

How you feel is said to be influenced by what you eat. Studies suggest that anxiety is not always caused by the food you eat. However, certain foods can trigger it and others help to combat it. The famous phrase “you are what you eat” was born. Foods containing caffeine, refined sugar, and omega-3 fatty acids aggravate anxiety. However, foods rich in tryptophan (an amino acid), magnesium, omega-3 fats, & vitamin B1 reduce anxiety symptoms.

ANXIETY DIET RECOMMENDATIONS

Diet for Anxiety

If you eat poorly, it is hard to control. Diet is not directly related to anxiety, but it can increase or decrease anxiety. Certain foods make us feel good and calmer, while others can make us irritable.

You will find the best food for anxiety.

A copper vessel boiled with milk can be used to relieve a vitiated Vata/wind.
Vegetables that are moderately cooked, such as spinach, beetroots, carrots, and radish.
Reduce anxiety by eating bananas, peanuts butter, yogurt, and garlic.
Water intake
Tryptophan is found in foods such as bananas, Oats and soy, poultry, cheeses, nuts, peanuts butter, sesame seeds, and milk.
Magnesium-rich foods such as black beans and tofu, are essential.
Fish, salmon, flaxseed, and winter squash all contain omega-3 fatty acids.
Foods are rich in vitamin B1, such as beef, pork and leafy vegetables, legumes, citrus fruits and oranges, rice, eggs, and rice.

Foods to Moderately Consume

Broccoli and cauliflower, cabbage, sprouts, bell peppers, broad bean, and potatoes are only to be eaten occasionally. If you like to eat non-vegetarian foods, stick with white meats only. Chicken and turkey are good choices.

Foods to Avoid

Alcohol, excessive coffee, and caffeinated beverages, as well as foods that are heavy to digest, such a wheat (including whole wheat), meat, especially red meat, deep-fried food, and artificial sugar, can cause blockages of the microchannels and lead to toxins.

Home Remedies

When cooking beans, lentils, and cabbage, a pinch of Asafoetida (Hing) should always be used to reduce vata.

About The Author

Dr. Vijay Kumar Kamat

Dr. Vijay Kamat graduated from K.L.E. Society's Shri B. M. Kankanwadi Ayurved Mahavidyalaya, Belgaum, India. Established in 1933, one of the oldest ayurvedic institutions in India. He was also the ayurvedic consultant for the Kerudi Hospital and Research Center, Bagalkot, India.Dr. Kamat has several years of experience in ayurvedic medicine,panchakarma and yoga and has worked extensively on documentation of traditional ayurvedic medicinal plants,especially about their identification,availability,processing and formulation.