Foods For Anxiety

By Author: Chester Ku-Lea
Total Articles: 40
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Ever more people are now suffering from the effects of anxiety and depression. These two disorders are often part of the same mood disorder and both states can lead to a great deal of upset in the sufferer's life. While serious clinical depression and anxiety disorders often require medical intervention, including therapy and sometimes prescription medication, at other times lesser measures may be all that is required.

Anxiety or panic attacks can feel life threatening to the person suffering from them. Often the individual experiences an overwhelming sense of impending disaster and feels short of breath. Alongside these highly unpleasant feelings, physical symptoms can show themselves. These might include heart palpitations; chest pain; dizziness; trembling; chills and/or hot flashes; numbness and tingling in the extremities; and distorted perception. Panic attacks can therefore make the person feel as if he or she is going to die. Recurrent panic attacks can also lead to longer term effects, including insomnia, decreased libido, aches and pains, muscular twitching, depression and overall tension. Even low grade ...
... anxiety can result in chronic fatigue, migraines, and lassitude.

Because of all of the very physical effects which can result from panic attacks and generalized anxiety, the body is often weakened by this disorder. As such, there are some important vitamins and minerals that your body needs when it is suffering from a heightened state of anxiety. Even if you are merely undergoing a period of increased stress due to situational factors which may resolve themselves soon enough, taking a look at the suggestions below can help you get through it with the least damage to your body and its immune system as possible.

First of all Calcium and Magnesium are essential to managing the effects of anxiety and stress. These minerals act as natural tranquilizers and can therefore help relieve the effects of anxiety, tension, muscular spasm and tics, and generalized nervousness. The two minerals are best taken together at a ration of approximately 2 to 1 (Calcium to Magnesium). Individuals dealing with heightened anxiety or stress should get about 2000 mg of Calcium daily, and 600-1000 of Magnesium.

The adrenal glands which can be overworked during periods of anxiety and stress also need to be taken care of. Vitamin C in divided doses of up to 10,000 mg daily in total can be important for supporting proper immune system function as well as proper adrenal gland functioning. Large doses of Vitamin C have also been shown to have a tranquilizing effect on the body and are known to decrease feelings of anxiety. Vitamin C is therefore an essential stress vitamin.

Zinc likewise has a calming effect on the nervous system. 50-80 mg daily is recommended, but doses should not exceed 100 mg daily from supplements. Stress can also make the body more susceptible to free radical cell damage and as such, a good multivitamin should be taken to ensure every part of the body is receiving what it needs to stay healthy. Ginko biloba and milk thistle are important for the neutralization of free radicals as they are rich in flavonoids.

Finally, a diet which helps fight anxiety should include apricots, avocadoes, bananas, broccoli, blackstrap molasses, brown rice, dried fruits, figs, salmon, garlic, green leafy vegetables, raw nuts and seeds, soy produces, whole grains and yogurt. These foods are generally rich in the above vitamins and minerals, especially calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and potassium, all of which might be depleted by stress. When you are suffering from mild forms of stress, anxiety or depression, the above foods and nutrients can help keep your body protected and relaxed. Moreover, these foods will actually help diminish feelings of anxiety, thereby hastening the end of the disorder.
Chester Ku-Lea is a health nutrition consultant and is the owner of AstroNutrition.com - a provider of premium health nutrition and sports supplements. Check out our blog at AstroNutrition.com/blog.