Anxiety is not a new word in the 21st-century Modern World. The stress of living in the Modern Age of Social Media automatically burdens one with anxiety!
Hectic jobs, running on a treadmill, and mindless social media consumption all take a toll on your health in subtle and insidious ways!
A simple statistic: 18 per cent of Americans suffer from anxiety! Eighteen per cent – nearly ⅕ of the population suffers from anxiety!
While there are deadlines to be met, events to be held, and weddings to be attended, nothing can diminish the importance of Food and the role it plays in reducing anxiety.
Check out these 10 anxiety-causing foods to stay away from to reduce symptoms of anxiety and improve your overall well-being!
Hot Dogs
A Hot dog would surely look tasty and a portion of comfort food for you, but you might not be aware that the food you are enjoying could be dangerous for you. They are a visual treat and a delicious treat! Eat too many Hot Dogs, and your anxiety levels can spike up in no time!
Regular consumers of processed foods find themselves @at a 58 percent risk of Anxiety + some form of depression. That is a scary statistic! If you want to beat anxiety, stay away from these tempting, delightful treats!
- Nitrates and preservatives found in hot dogs may disrupt gut bacteria, which are crucial for maintaining mental health and regulating mood.
- Dietary habits significantly affect the gut-brain axis, and poor choices like processed meats can aggravate anxiety symptoms, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
- Regular consumption of processed meat has been associated with neuroinflammation, which can contribute to mood disorders and increased emotional stress.
- Experts suggest adopting a whole-food, anti-inflammatory diet rich in vegetables, whole grains, and omega-3 fatty acids to reduce anxiety naturally.
Candies & Chocolates
You pass by a store, and you can’t stop yourself from grabbing a yummy Choco Bar. We all know that feeling too well! Candies are even more delightful and easy to consume! But just like all good things, Candies and Chocolates cause blood sugar to rise like crazy. Our suggestion is to eat candies in small portions! Moderation is your best friend when it comes to these sweet nothings!
- High sugar intake can lead to insulin spikes, triggering mood swings and irritability.
- Excessive sugar lowers serotonin levels, worsening symptoms of anxiety and depression.
- A typical candy bar contains 20–30g of added sugar, which is far above the healthy daily limit.
- Harvard Health suggests limiting sugar to improve mental clarity and emotional balance.
Energy Bars
Hidden Sugar? Some food types may appear to have no sugar, but they do. As a health freak and advocate, don’t be fooled! Sugar comes in various forms, such as your favorite fatty yogurt, Spaghetti Sauce, yummy Granola Bars, and even Vitamin Water.
- Hidden sugars appear under names like maltose, dextrose, rice syrup, and evaporated cane juice.
- Vitamin Water & sauces often contain up to 32g of sugar per bottle or serving.
- Even “low-fat” products usually compensate with added sugars to retain taste.
- The American Heart Association urges label-checking for any ingredients ending in “-ose”, which are forms of sugar.
Milk & Dairy Products
Who doesn’t love bread and butter? Or a solid glass of milk with a good bread-and-butter breakfast? Dairy products are beneficial for both children and adults. Calcium? Good. Protein? Good! Specific B-Vitamins? Yay! Probiotics in Yoghurt/Kefir? Great!
Downside: Milk contains relatively large quantities of saturated fat. Any inflammation present is exacerbated by Milk. It may even worsen it! Your gut can even be inflamed due to milk consumption. To avoid hormonal disharmony and imbalances, limit your intake of milk and other dairy products.
- Saturated fats in full-fat dairy may increase systemic inflammation, impacting mood and gut health.
- Specific individuals with lactose intolerance or casein sensitivity may experience anxiety-like symptoms due to gut imbalance.
- 🔗 NIH – Lactose Intolerance & Gut Symptoms
- Experts recommend plant-based alternatives, such as almond milk, oat milk, or probiotic-rich coconut yogurt, for individuals with sensitive stomachs.
Ketchup
Do you see that innocent bottle of Ketchup sitting on your table? You might never think that could raise your anxiety levels, but we would like to let you in on a little secret!
Psst: Ketchup is a very sneaky and subtle source of high-fructose corn syrup, also known as HFCS. Every single time you add a little bit of ketchup to your potato crisps or even to your Plate of Noodles, Anxiety levels increase and reach levels never seen before!
HFCS (High-Fructose Corn Syrup) is a tricky little ingredient we would like to add. It’s sweet! Sweeter than even table sugar! You gain weight like crazy with Ketchup in
Solution: Choose Low-Sugar Condiments – Free of HFCS! Ta-Da!
- High-fructose corn Syrup (HFCS) is linked to insulin resistance, metabolic stress, and mood swings.
- 🧠 HFCS contributes to neuroinflammation, which may increase anxiety and impair emotional regulation.
- 🍅 Most commercial ketchups contain up to 4g of added sugar per tablespoon, mostly from HFCS or cane sugar.
- ✅ Health experts recommend checking labels and switching to organic ketchup or condiments with no added sugars or artificial sweeteners.
White Flour
Sugar, Spic,e, and everything nice is what those yummy doughnuts at Dunkin’ Donuts are made of! What else may you wonder? White Flour. White Flour is dangerous because it is a hidden source of sugar. Consume one too many donuts, and watch your blood sugar spike like crazy! Cortisone levels and Adrenaline levels also skyrocket with too much White Flour in your blood! Result: Anxiety levels: Very,, very High!
Solution: Consume Whole Grain Foods regularly. Please keep it simple! You will see an immediate decrease in the levels of your anxiety!
- Refined white flour causes rapid blood glucose spikes, which can trigger anxiety-like symptoms and energy crashes.
- 🧠 White flour is low in fiber and nutrients, leading to poor gut health, which is directly linked to mental health and stress.
- 🔄 High glycemic index (GI) foods like donuts stimulate cortisol and adrenaline, the body’s primary stress hormones.
- ✅ Replacing refined flour with whole grains (such as oats, quinoa, and brown rice) helps stabilize blood sugar and supports a calmer mood.
Caffeine
A strong cup of Coffee is a fantastic gift! Nothing beats the feeling of waking up to a strong cup of coffee. You feel much more alive and awake with a solid cup of caffeine, no arguments there!
Caffeine also leads to you being an anxious mess if taken in larger quantities.
Fun Fact: Caffeine reduces serotonin levels in your system and can interfere with sleep cycles!
Result: Higher levels of anxiety, Depression, and irritability follow. If you want to keep anxiety and stress at bay, drop that caffeine patch soon!
- ☕ High caffeine intake can stimulate the central nervous system, leading to increased heart rate, jitteriness, and anxiety.
- 🧠 Studies show caffeine may lower serotonin levels, affecting mood regulation and sleep quality.
- 🌙 Caffeine can disrupt circadian rhythms, especially when consumed after 2 PM, leading to insomnia and mood swings. 🔗 NIH – Caffeine & Sleep Disturbance
Energy Drinks
Energizing in every way, Energy Drinks are the go-to for a lot of long-distance cycling enthusiasts and long-distance runners, as well! Energy drinks are a perfect match for individuals engaged in physically demanding activities. You get an instant energy boost with these drinks.
The dark side of Energy Drinks: Abnormal Heart Rhythms + Sleep issues crop up regularly from consuming these! Get the ball rolling by minimizing the consumption of Energy Drinks to avoid higher anxiety levels!
- ⚡ Most energy drinks contain high levels of caffeine + added sugar, which can trigger anxiety, heart palpitations, and sleep disturbance.
- 🧠 A 2021 NIH study linked frequent energy drink use to increased stress, anxiety, and depression in young adults. 🔗 NIH – Mental Health & Energy Drinks
- ❤️ Ingredients like taurine and guarana, when combined with caffeine, may overstimulate the nervous system and lead to irregular heart rhythms.
Gluten Foods
Do you have sensitive physical health? Stay away from MSG and Gluten! MSG is derived from Gluten. It is also a solid flavor enhancer, as it is found in Frozen Meals. E.g., Soy Sauce. If you have untreatable anxiety levels, get a gluten-free diet and watch your health soar magically! Kiss anxiety goodbye with a gluten-free diet.
Say hello to a clear and healthy you! Fresh and beautiful, you are sure to be the best version of yourself. Follow this simple advice, and you will find yourself amazed beyond belief!
- ⚠️ Gluten sensitivity may not always lead to anxiety, but studies suggest it can impact mood and contribute to brain fog in sensitive individuals. 🔗 NIH – Gluten & Neuropsychiatric Symptoms
- 🧠 Monosodium glutamate (MSG), commonly found in frozen meals and sauces, may trigger headaches, anxiety, and fatigue in sensitive individuals.
- 🍜 Soy sauce, bouillon cubes, and processed snacks are hidden sources of both MSG and gluten — always check food labels!
- ✅ A gluten-free, whole-food diet may reduce inflammation and improve gut-brain balance, which plays a critical role in emotional wellness.
- Preserved Foods
Preserving foods got people through some tough times in the olden ages. What you may not be aware of is that Preserved Foods create biogenic animes. Histamines in biogenic animes increase adrenaline levels like crazy! Anxiety Levels skyrockets and insomnia increases disrupting proper sleep cycles!
You are definitely better off without all that extra anxiety! Say No to preserved foods! Keep your head and health up.
Conclusion:
Healthy foods are a solid way of improving your mental and physical well-being, no doubt! If your goal is to be healthy, avoid anxiety-triggering foods! Keep it simple and easy. Eliminate some of the above-mentioned foods, and soar high in the sky! Say hello to your mental and physical well-being! Give these foods a decent shot, you won’t be disappointed with the results.
Bid anxiety Goodbye, forever!
