Did you know that there are simple steps to alleviate your anxiety with your diet?
Stress and Anxiety can be symptoms of a diet deficient in nutrients.
In today’s world, most people are on the Standard American Diet (SAD). This means the diet is loaded with processed, “convenient” foods, and is likely deficient in essential nutrients needed for optimal health.
When the body is deficient in nutrients, energy production cannot happen, inflammation rises, and the body is ripe for disease. And, sadly, one of the reasons mental health disorders like Anxiety and Depression are on the rise is because more and more people aren’t getting enough nutrients.
But it doesn’t have to be that way. There are simple steps you can take to alleviate anxiety with your diet.
How do you modify your diet to reduce stress and alleviate anxiety?
There are three simple, foundational steps you can take to alleviate anxiety and stress symptoms with your diet. They are:
- Choosing Organic Foods
- Eating More Plants
- Getting Food Allergies Out of your Diet
All of these changes will help to re-engage your parasympathetic “rest & digest” nervous system, reduce inflammation, improve nutrient intake, and help alleviate symptoms of stress and anxiety.
Below, I share with you details on why each of these choices are so important and some easy ways you can start to increase your nutrient intake and relieve your symptoms.
If you’d rather watch the video on this topic, you can do so here.
Simple Steps to Alleviate Anxiety with Your Diet
1) Go Organic
If a food is labeled organic, that means it was grown without pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, or genetically-modified organisms (GMOs). This is important because pesticides and herbicides, like Round-Up (aka glyphosate), are acetylcholinesterase inhibitors.
What does that mean?
Acetylcholinesterase is your body’s most predominant neurotransmitter. When something like glyphosate inhibits your neurotransmitters functionality, it basically means it’s causing your nervous system to misfire and go into dysfunction.
When you eat conventionally grown produce, you’re ingesting pesticides that are preventing your nervous system from functioning optimally.
Let me write that again… THEY ARE PREVENTING YOUR NERVOUS SYSTEM FROM FUNCTIONING OPTIMALLY!
Do you really want to risk the health of your nervous system to save a few pennies?
On average, organic foods have higher nutrient-density than their conventionally-grown counterparts. This is mainly because the soil they are grown in is more nutrient-rich, and the nutrients are fed into the plant as it grows.
If you want to learn a little bit more on the importance or organics, check out this quick blog I wrote on the topic here.
Ultimately, if you’re suffering from chronic stress and/or anxiety, consider switching to organics options. Your nervous system and your improved moods will thank you!
2) Eat your (organic!) Vegetables & Fruits!
One of the things I love teaching in my programs is how to choose alkalizing foods and incorporate them into their diet. When a food is alkalizing it means it is nutrient-dense, free of harmful toxins, and it helps reduce inflammation in the body.
All of these things are KEY to energy production and improving your moods with food!
Eating organic plants – vegetables and fruits – are helpful for anxiety and stress relief because they are some of the most alkalizing foods we can eat.
Organic fruits and vegetables contain many of the essential nutrients you need to produce energy. They’re also high in fiber, antioxidants, and other healthy compounds your body needs to alkalize.
Some of my favorite organic plants to eat in order to reduce stress and anxiety are:
- Blueberries
- Avocado
- Lemons & Limes
- Blackberries
- Spinach
- Kale
- Swiss Chard
- Broccoli
- Sprouts
- Chlorella
- And Spirulina
These foods are some of the most alkalizing foods you can include in your diet because they are high in antioxidants and essential nutrients. They also happen to be some of the most common foods you can now find at your local grocery store’s organic section
Simple enough, right? But that’s not the whole picture. Most people have food allergies that need to be considered, and the next step in reducing stress and anxiety naturally is removing food allergies from your diet.
3) Remove Food Allergies from your Diet
Food allergies, specifically delayed food allergies (also known as IgG Food Allergies) can contribute to neurological conditions and mental health disorders. This is because they can wreak havoc on the body by causing inflammation and overly stimulating your nervous system “fight or flight” response.
In order to allow your body to heal, and to alleviate your symptoms, it’s necessary to get your food allergies OUT of your diet. It’s a super important step to alleviate stress and anxiety, and it’s simple to get started.
Start by removing the four most common food allergens from your diet:
- Gluten,
- Dairy,
- Yeast, and
- Eggs
However, I’ve seen plenty of clients come back with food allergies to things like peas, avocados, coconuts, strawberries, kale, sweet potatoes, almonds, flaxseeds, and more!
So why GUESS when you can KNOW?
There’s no need to guess or assume what your food allergies are. You can get tested so you KNOW! What might be a medicinal food for someone else may not necessarily be medicinal for YOU.
If you want to learn more about Delayed Food Allergies, you can read this quick blog post.
Or, if you’re ready to take the next step, let’s get you on my calendar for your complimentary healthy strategy session. We’ll discuss how food allergy testing can best support you to alleviate your symptoms of stress and anxiety.
Use these simple steps to alleviate anxiety and stress with your diet today!
There are some simple things you can do with your diet to start reducing your stress and alleviating your anxiety.
First, remember that choosing organic foods goes a long way in supporting your nervous system and your mental health. You’ll be getting more nutrients into your body!
Second, remember to eat more plants. (Organic, of course.) Incorporate more vegan meals and even vegan days into your diet. Look at the list above for some of the most alkalizing foods and see how you can work them into your meals. Little shifts can add up to big rewards!
Finally, get tested so you KNOW what your food allergies are. And if you can’t get tested right now, removing the four most common food allergies from your diet could help you get started!
Making these simple changes to your diet can be a simple way to reduce stress, alleviate anxiety, and find relief. The steps I’ve shared above are some of the most essential for alleviating your symptoms and I hope you’ll find they bring you more peace, happiness, and health!
If you’re at a point where you’re ready for 1:1 support, accountability and coaching to help reduce stress and alleviate anxiety, reach out and get on my calendar. I’m here to help!
Wishing you all the best in your health journey!
Much Love,
Susan Renee
