Anxiety is the most common mental illness in America, with more than 19 million people suffering from anxiety disorders annually, reports the National Institute of Mental Health. Dealing with anxiety and stress can help you reduce your risk of developing a more serious mental health disorder or reduce your symptoms if you already are experiencing an anxiety disorder. One way to help fight stress and anxiety is to include certain stress- and anxiety-reducing foods in your diet.
Foods With B Vitamins
B vitamins are important to keep you healthy during times of stress and anxiety. Taking in enough B vitamins will help ensure that you do not become more stressed due to the development of a stress-induced illness. Also, having a deficiency in vitamin B-12 can cause depression and irritability, according to "American Family Physician." Depression and irritability can make it harder to deal with stress. Eat animal-based meats that are high in vitamin B12 or cereals that have been enriched with B12, or take a supplement to ensure you get enough B12. Also, foods such as broccoli, almonds and milk will provide you with rich sources of B vitamins.
Tea
According to Dr. Duke Whether on the Reader's Digest website, drinking a cup of catnip, passionflower. skullcap or kava kava tea can produce similar calming effects as chamomile tea. The herbs in these teas help to calm you and reduce your stress. Also, the act of taking the time to relax and drink the tea will contribute to lower anxiety levels.
Calcium-Rich Foods
Next time you are stressed, drink a calcium-rich beverage. According to Dr. Mary Dallman, professor of physiology at the University of California, San Francisco, in "Women's Health" magazine, the muscle spasms and tension caused by stress and anxiety can be soothed by the intake of calcium. Calcium-rich beverages to try include skim milk, enriched soy milk and enriched orange juice.
Foods Rich in Whole Grains
Eating foods rich in whole grains can help fight stress and anxiety. Whole grains are slowly digested by your body, which will keep your energy levels up, making you able to deal effectively with stress. Also, the complex carbohydrates found in whole grains can help improve your mood. According to WomenFitness.net, complex carbohydrates increase the amount of serotonin your brain releases, and serotonin is a neurotransmitter that helps you feel calm.
Stick with whole grains instead of refined grains, which digest quickly and can cause spikes and dips in blood sugar, which can have a negative effect on your mood. Pick whole grains such as brown rice, quinoa, oatmeal, whole-grain cereal, whole-grain pasta and whole-grain bread.
Beverages Without Caffeine
Drinking caffeinated beverages such as coffee, tea and soda can increase your levels of stress and anxiety. Caffeine produces similar effects within your body as stress and anxiety. Therefore, to reduce your stress and anxiety, stick to caffeine-free beverages such as decaf tea, decaf coffee and caffeine-free soda, or choose water instead.
