Apr23
7 Ways to Help Rid Anxiety
Help Reduce Anxiety with FOOD?
Did you know that over 40 million adults suffer from anxiety?
And that our current therapies are often ineffective and highly ADDICTIVE (in as little as 4 days no less)?
One study conducted by the University of Michigan School of Nursing, for example, revealed that children who used anti-anxiety medication were 12 times more likely to abuse these drugs than children who did not?
That.Is.TERRIFYING.
Fortunately, recent research has elucidated there is a better way. In fact, certain dietary tweaks have been shown to dramatically improve mental health and reduce anxiety without the nasty side effects of many common anti-anxiety drugs.
But why does our food affect our mood, you ask?
Because the gut and the brain are physically connected by something called the vagus nerve. Though it was once believed messages only traveled from the brain to the gut, more recent research has revealed that information travels back and forth between the gut and brain like an information superhighway.
In other words, the gut and brain are in constant communication and an unhealthy GUT = an unhealthy BRAIN
(and vice versa!)
In one fascinating study…
“…scientists transplanted the fecal microbiota from an anxious strain of mice to a calm mouse to see what would happen. Not surprisingly, the calm mouse became anxious, and the bacteria from the calm strain of mice helped relax those with anxiety.”
It wasn’t genetics or brain chemistry that affected their behavior, but their gut bacteria!
The awesome moral of the story?
The food you eat can change the contents of your microbiome in hours, minutes even!
Therefore, by optimizing your diet you may be able to reduce anxiety without medication.
I know it sounds too good to be true, but it’s not. Believe me. I was riddled with anxiety since the age of 12 and despite the fact that I saw countless doctors, psychiatrists and experts, NOTHING cured my anxiety like high quality food. So here are a few tips and tricks I learned during the research for my Master’s Thesis (and my life experience) that may make you feel more calm and centered than EVER.
1. Eliminate sugar and processed foods.
Sugar and processed foods encourage the growth of pathogenic gut bacteria which negatively affects gut (and therefore brain) health. They also promote blood sugar swings that can be interpreted as anxiety. Kick them to the curb yesterday. You’ll thank me later.
2. Cut the gluten.
There is a very strong connection between anxiety and gluten. In fact, Trudy Scott, author of the Antianxiety Food Solution, says that eliminating gluten is the #1 strategy she uses with her clients. If you haven’t gone gluten-free yet, it’s time.
3. Focus on fiber.
Fiber is a magical food for the gut. Fill your plate with organic fruits and veggies and aim for 5-8 servings or 50 grams of fiber each day. You can also grind up organic flax seeds and sprinkle them on shakes and salads for an extra fiber PUNCH.
4. Add fermented foods.
In a study published in Psychiatry Research, the probiotics in fermented foods such as pickles were found to help alleviate social anxiety. They found that the students who ate more fermented foods had less social anxiety. So grab some pickles, raw sauerkraut, coconut yogurt or our 100% Grass Fed Beef Sticks (which contain 1 billion probiotics per stick) are brimming with beneficial bacteria that promote gut health.
5. Ditch the caffeine.
Far too few anxiety sufferers know that caffeine (and the blood sugar surges that it can cause) can cause anxiety. I know this all too well. When I drank green tea throughout the day I was wayyy more anxious than my caffeine-free self-today. If you think you'll miss your daily cup of joe, try capomo. It tastes JUST like coffee without the crash. Pinky swear.
6. Consume grass-fed red meat.
According to research conducted by Dr. Felice Jacka, grass-fed red meat is the MOST anxiolytic food of all studied. Have a grass-fed burger or steak a few times a week or try our 100% Grass Fed Beef Sticks. I used to be afraid of red meat, but since I started consuming it regularly my anxiety is at an all-time low.
7. Don’t forget probiotics.
Probiotics have been shown to improve mental health in a number of ways (boosts your body’s ability to produce neurotransmitters, reduces inflammation, and improves body’s reaction to stress). They’ve even coined the term “psychobiotics,” for probiotics that improve mental health and include strains like Lactobacillus helveticus and Bifidobacterium longum.
I sincerely believe that one day all anxiety treatment will begin with dietary intervention. In the meantime, stay ahead of the curve, let food by thy medicine and watch your physical AND mental health THRIVE.
It definitely worked for me and I sincerely hope it works for you, too.
Oh! And if you still haven't tried our award-winning 100% Grass Fed Beef Sticks (the only probiotic-containing beef sticks on the market!) make sure you do TODAY. We actually created them in as a result of Dr. Felice Jacka's awesome research.
Here’s to a health gut AND brain.
