5+ Food Items That Contribute To Anxiety
Food Items That Contribute To Anxiety. Certain foods contribute to anxiety by producing high blood sugar levels, says Maggie Michalczyk. She is a registered dietitian based in Chicago.
Food high in sugar like cookies, candy, soda pop, pies etc. can lead to such blood spikes. Moreover, people consume comfort foods to relieve stress provoke anxiety, says Dr Daniel Devine. He is a dual board-certified internist, geriatrician and co-founder of Devine Concierge Medicine, from Philadelphia.
Highly processed food items like cakes, cheese, etc., increase inflammation in the body. Moreover, they may invoke anxiety, Devine adds. So, how do you know which foods contribute to anxiety?
Here are 6 food items that cause inflammation and invoke anxiety:
- Energy drinks, coffee or tea
- Alcohol
- Fruit and vegetable smoothie without protein
- Cakes, candy, pies and cookies
- Ready-made meal, processed cheese and meats.
- Sugary drinks.
Energy drinks, coffee or tea:
Beverages containing caffeine, like coffee, tea or energy drinks, can invoke anxiety. “The more caffeine you consume, the greater chance of anxiety flaring,” Devine says. Subsequently, there is a higher chance of anxiety in people who consume more than 5 cups of coffee a day, research suggests. Moreover, caffeine activates adenosine receptors in the peripheral and central nervous systems.
Alcohol:
Alcoholic beverages, which are depressants, have a calming effect. But the consumption of alcohol in the hope of calming down may backfire. Consequently, it often leads to lack of sleep and spike in blood sugar levels. More so, if consumed in an empty stomach. Also, it may result in dehydration and physical hangover symptoms, which leads to anxiety.
Fruit and vegetable smoothie without protein:
Smoothies made out of a combination of fruits and vegetables are a great way to get nutrition. However, without protein or fibre, drinking smoothie may lead to a spike and fall of the blood sugar level. As a result, can lead to feelings of anxiety.
If you love having smoothies, add proteins like:
- Nuts
- Seeds
- Protein Powder
Cakes, Candies, Pies and Cookies:
Food items high in sugar can result in high blood sugar levels, which in turn leads to anxiety. These items are even low in fibre and might disturb the gut microbiome.
Ready-made meals, processed meats and cheese:
Processed food is associated with inflammation, which invokes anxiety. Also, these foods are low in fibre and may disturb the gut microbiome, Devine says. Your gut microbiome is a typically diverse mix of microorganisms living in the gut. A healthy microbiome is necessary for the body to function properly.
Sugary Drinks:
To sum up. fruit juice and soda pops are typically loaded with sugar. For instance, a 12 ounce can of soda contains 8 to 13 teaspoons of sugar, depending on the type. Additionally, many fruit juices don’t contain any fibre but are loaded with sugar. Also, fibre slows the digestion process, which helps control blood sugar levels.
Hence, with the increasing lifestyle changes and risks, it’s wise to cut down on unhealthy food. Yes, we all love comfort foods, but anything that invokes anxiety, is to be avoided. Certain food or food additive may cause mood shifts in some people. And these mood swings can invoke stress.
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