FOOD AND MOOD.
Food and mood go hand in hand. If you’re fueling your body with junk, then your system is not going to function properly. As a simple rule, unprocessed WHOLE foods from the earth are going to be best. This means you should be loading up on fresh fruits, veggies, beans, lentils, nuts, seeds, potatoes, etc. If it comes in a box with a laundry list of ingredients, then I would recommend avoiding it! So many of us suffer from anxiety, and fortunately, you do have some control over it. The following is a list of healthy tips and foods for managing your anxiety.
Hydration
Water is crucial for proper brain function, so staying hydrated all day long is key, especially for anxiety-prone individuals. Squeezing some lemon into your water gives a little extra hydration. I would suggest drinking a minimum of 75 ounces of water a day, ideally 100+ ounces. To keep track of your h2o intake get a reusable water bottle and make sure you know how many ounces it holds. For example, if you have a 20-ounce water bottle and you have a goal of drinking 100 oz of water during the day, you should fill it up four times. I have a 32 oz water bottle and I fill it up at least three times a day, this really helps me keep track of my water intake.
Bananas
We all know bananas are great for their potassium content, but what’s even cooler is that bananas do WONDERS for the nervous system. Bananas contain tryptophan which helps to soothe and calm the nervous system. Bananas get a bad rep because people assume they have too much sugar. The fructose in a banana is a good kind of sugar. Add a banana to your smoothie or grab one for a snack, they are the perfect brain food to ease your anxiety!
Avocados
Avocados contain essential, healthy fatty acids that nourish and relax the brain. Avocados also contain B vitamins that act as stress relievers and the combination of monounsaturated fat and potassium helps to lower blood pressure. If you’re feeling anxious, make some avocado toast or have some carrots dipped in guacamole! My favorite bread to use for avocado toast is ezekiel bread, it is flourless and sprouted.
Leafy Greens
Leafy greens like lettuces, swiss chard, kale, and spinach contain bioactive magnesium. This kind of magnesium is absorbed more easily by the system and is penetrated more deeply by the nervous system. Magnesium is really important and plays a critical role in stress-management and anxiety relief within the body. Not only does magnesium help with anxiety but it also helps manage symptoms of ADHD. Nuts, seeds, and legumes are also great sources of magnesium.
Potatoes
Potatoes aren’t often viewed as a health food because we are used to seeing them as fries, loaded with sour cream or mashed with a ton of butter. Plain, simple, wholesome potatoes are incredible for your health. Potatoes are rich in vitamin B6, potassium, and lysine. Lysine is a powerful amino acid that aids in soothing nerves and calming the digestive tract. What does the digestive tract have to do with anxiety you might ask? The gut and brain are interconnected so if the gut is out of balance so is the brain.
Alternatives
Doctors are very quick to write a prescription for a pill which acts as a band-aid, instead of addressing the root cause. There are alternatives to medication if you feel as though taking pills isn’t suited for you. I am not telling you to go off of your medication, I am just bringing awareness to the fact that there are always other options. Food truly can be medicine if you are eating the right foods. Other great ways to ease anxiety naturally is to incorporate a daily yoga practice into your life, get a weighted blanket, practice deep breathing exercises, take a walk outside, sip herbal tea slowly, take a magnesium supplement, eat magnesium-rich foods, or journaling throughout the day – writing out your feelings can be very healing.
Free Consultations
I am a Holistic Health Coach and the Founder of CodeGreen Wellness. I help people eat for optimal wellness while teaching them how to form sustainable healthy habits that last a lifetime.
In my coaching program we explore:
- Creating consistent, sustainable, long-term healthy habits
- Foods you should be eating for optimal gut health
- The best diet to prevent disease
- Clearing skin from within
- The benefits of probiotics and the power of fermented food
- Reducing inflammation through lifestyle
- Getting regular and the importance of fiber
- Tackling and preventing chronic constipation
- How to lose weight and keep it off for good
- Centering your day around movement
Email me at CodeGreenWellness@gmail.com to set up your FREE consultation. There is no perfect time to get healthy, so why not take control of your health NOW. I will help you to get healthy within the context of your life.
In good health,
Danielle
