The worst foods for anxiety
People with anxiety may feel sweaty, restless or tense, and in some cases, have a pounding heart.
Anxiety occurs as a psychophysiological reaction of intense activation of the central nervous system and the entire organism.
According to specialists at the Mayo Clinic, in anxiety disorders there are repeated episodes of sporadic feelings of intense anxiety and terror, which peak in a matter of minutes (panic attacks).
However, this can lead to other states that are detrimental to health: ” Anxiety becomes a disorder when it does not let us do those things that we like to do and it persists over time,” according to Miquel Àngel Fullana, a psychologist specializing in disorders.
In addition, people with anxiety may feel sweaty, restless or tense, and in some cases, have a pounding heart. Anxiety can even be a normal reaction to stress generated by external factors such as job tension, economic, personal or family problems, according to the specialized health portal, MedlinePlus.
Symptoms
- Feeling nervous, agitated, or tense.
- Sensation of imminent danger, panic or catastrophe.
- Increased heart rate.
- Having trouble falling asleep.
- Having gastrointestinal (GI) problems.
- Having difficulty controlling worries.
- Fast breathing (hyperventilation).
- Feeling weak or tired.
- Trouble concentrating or thinking about anything other than the current concern.
The worst foods for anxiety
According to the specialized health magazine, Healthline, there are a number of foods that can worsen anxiety, so all people who suffer from this disorder should avoid them.
Caffeine
- Caffeine is a stimulant substance, which can cause side effects such as anxiety and nervousness.
- However, it should be noted that these effects typically appear at high doses, so moderate coffee consumption is considered safe.
Added sugars
- Sugar is naturally present in many common foods, making it difficult (and undesirable) to avoid it all the time.
- Consuming too much sugar, which occurs mostly from artificially added sugars in foods, causes spikes in blood glucose concentration that are felt in the form of sudden rises and falls in energy.
Refined carbohydrates
- The abundant consumption of refined carbohydrates has been associated with a number of serious conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and obesity.
- In addition, increasingly, studies have found that excessive diets in this food are also related to depressive and anxious symptoms.
Alcohol
- Undoubtedly, many people resort to alcohol to temporarily alleviate different psychological discomforts. However, there is abundant evidence that this substance has the opposite effect.
- On the other hand, the use of alcohol, especially if it is frequent, is related to imbalances in the levels of certain neurotransmitters such as serotonin, which can worsen the symptoms of anxiety disorders.
- In addition, drunkenness caused by alcohol can be followed, in the short term, by a ‘rebound effect’ that immediately increases anxiety.
Drink to relieve anxiety
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon of magnesium.
- 1 glass of water.
- 1/2 of a lemon.
- 1 teaspoon of honey or 2 drops of stevia.
- 1 ice cube.
Preparation:
- Take 1 tablespoon of magnesium and mix it in a glass of water.
- Stir well until the magnesium dissolves.
- Add 1/2 lemon to the mix.
- Add 1 teaspoon of honey.
- Add 1 ice cube to the mixture.
- Enjoy this drink several times a week.
