December 30, 2009
Eat Right to Manage Anxiety Stress
Anxiety stress is a common type of stress that usually results in more serious forms of depression, especially if the stress causers are not addressed and treated. The usual way to treat this kind of stress is through the use of medication, which of course can result in larger problems, such as drug dependencies and side effects. A less damaging solution can be found through simple changes in your diet that will allow you to get stress relief without the need of drugs.
Dietary changes are a healthier way to reduce anxiety stress. Eliminating certain items from your diet may be difficult, but it can be done over time and will help you in dealing with stress. Such items as caffeine, whether in coffee, tea or soft drinks, sugar, alcohol and nicotine are four culprits that should be addressed and avoided. Too much caffeine and you can become moody and irritable. Sugars and alcohol raise your blood sugar but then rapidly decrease it leading to hypoglycemic symptoms that can leave you fatigued. Nicotine causes your heart to race, and while you may think that a cigarette relieves stress, it actually raises your blood pressure and can affect your moods negatively.
Stress and anxiety can also lead to headaches and tiredness, which are also caused by dehydration. Be sure that you get lots of fluids throughout the day so that your system is always hydrated to a suitable degree. This is an easy way to diminish stress, because water is plentiful and inexpensive to consume. Don't worry about consuming too much. When you experience thirst your body is already dehydrated, so make it a routine to get adequate water each day.
A type of food that helps you gain control over your anxiety and stress is complex carbohydrates, and are a component of foods like pasta, bread and potatoes. They supply a chemical known as serotonin that produces a mild feeling of serenity, like a tranquilizer. By consuming a healthy meal with complex carbohydrates you are getting a good dose of wholesome food and manufacturing natural stress relievers simultaneously.
While it is important to check with your doctor if you have elevated levels of anxiety stress, simple changes to your diet are important ways to manage stress. Avoiding or cutting down on caffeine, sugar and alcohol can positively affect how you feel each day. The importance of drinking water can't be over-emphasized. Our bodies are mostly made up of water, and we do need to replace it every day. Picking out complex carbohydrates to round out your diet can greatly reduce feelings of anxiety and help you cope with stress on a daily basis.
There are a number of different approaches to dealing with anxiety issues, medication and counseling being two of the most common. If you are one of the millions of Americans who need to learn how to manage their anxiety-depression, you can learn what you need to get started at Fighting Anxiety.
Filed under About Anxiety by Candace Martin














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