Sometimes when we are working with women who are experiencing bouts of intense anxiety, it’s really helpful to take a deep dive into all the things.
One of those things being what you are eating and drinking during the day. Have lots of other remedies not worked in controlling your anxiety? Then it may be be time to look at what you’re putting in your mouth.
We’ve learned that YES, there are foods and drinks that can increase anxiety and actually replicate it, depending on how sensitive your system is!
So how do you know if what you’re eating might be causing you undue stress? We got you.
Here are 4 foods that can cause anxiety in folks…
1. Caffeine!! Yes, some of us are so sensitive to this that the physical reaction to caffeine feels just like a freaking anxiety attack. Heart palpitations, rapid breathing, headache, etc…, and it can make you think you’re having an anxiety attack when in reality, you’re just sensitive to caffeine. Crazy, right? So, do some recon and start paying attention to when you’re having anxious feelings. Did you just drink your 3rd cup of coffee in an hour? Or maybe your 2nd diet coke? To help stop anxiety, you may want to cut back (at least a little – hey, we’re not monsters) and see if it helps improve your mental health.
2. Energy drinks. Red Bull, we’re looking atcha! Yep, like caffeine, energy drinks can cause the same symptoms in your body as an anxiety attack. When really, you just have too much energy in your system! This is another common culprit and again, it’s important for you to notice and link your anxious feelings to any consumption of this kind of drink. Keeping a journal over a week or even a month of when you consume these types of beverages and when you start feeling anxious may help shed some light on the dark and twisty places and help you feel better in the long run.
3. Aspartame or fake sugar. Okay, I know this seems is a little wonky, but I’ve seen this over and over with clients (and in myself btw). This “healthy” ingredient really can cause some strong reactions to it which can and often do, resemble anxiety. If you’re consuming a shit ton of Crystal Light or Milo in your water, or drinking tons of sugar-free syrups, drinks, or chowing on processed snacks, it may be a good idea to take a closer look at those packages to see if you’re consuming any of these sweeteners on a regular basis without knowing it. You could very well be having a sensitivity reaction.
4. Eating a crap ton of fast food and processed shiz. Yes, I know it’s hard to really take a look at your diet (hey, no judgement here – diet culture can beat it!) but eating things that are NOT whole foods can wreak havoc on your body, emotions, and overall well-being. This isn’t about being smaller or thinner or fitter or even healthier – comfort food has its place as much as nutrient dense food. But if you’ve been eating more processed and packaged foods than usual, you might have noticed you’re not feeling great. These highly processed foods are filled with chemicals and toxins that can cause – you guessed it – physical symptoms that mirror anxiety. Little Debbies: we see you! We feel you. And we get what you’re going through.
There ya go my love! I hope this helps you in getting your anxiety under control. Obviously, our anxiety is not always linked to our diets, but it often is. I’ve learned through both my own experience (and that of our clients) that lessening all 4 of these things in my own life has really helped me feel much clearer and calmer during the day. Can’t hurt to try, right?
If you need help getting your anxiety under control, don’t forget we are the anxiety slayers! It’s our jam and what we do all day every day. You can schedule an appointment with us here. We’ve got you!
