The only food I gave up to alleviate anxiety

I will first admit that it is not easy to live in anxiety. But when you are addicted to sugar, you try to control your anxiety? That's almost impossible.

Goodbye, cupcakes! (Photo: egal/istock/gettyimages)

What happens when I reduce sugar intake while reducing sugar intake does not cure my anxiety. Reducing the content of addictive ingredients absolutely reduces my symptoms and makes it easier for me to cope with stress.

I found that my high-sugar diet exacerbated existing anxiety. It didn't produce new symptoms or change my diagnosis, but excessive sugar intake aggravated my symptoms and made it harder for me to cope with anxiety.

When I started reducing or even eliminating some sources of sugar, the severity of my symptoms decreased. But it's not easy.

"If you eat processed sugar every day, giving up sweets can lead to a surge in stress hormones, irritability and stress," says Mike Dow, Ph.D., author of the forthcoming book Heal Your Drained Brain. His study, published in the Journal of Behavioral Brain Research, found that when people withdraw from an unhealthy, hyperglycemic Western diet, the genes that influence stress change.

He said that when rats changed from unhealthy diet to healthy diet, they produced peak cortisol levels. & This highlights the fact that we do become addicted to unhealthy foods and withdrawal symptoms occur when you try to reduce your intake. & Quote;

Because sugar has a great impact on our emotions, Dr. Cole said reducing sugar intake is the first step in dealing with anxiety disorders. & When you take out these refined sugars, he says, your gut will begin to heal and inflammation will ease.

It takes 12 to 24 months for the adult intestine to heal completely. Overall, however, Dr. Cole said he saw some progress in anxiety patients every month.

Uma Naidoo, M.D., an emotional food specialist at Harvard Medical School, said that it takes some time for your body to adjust to reduced sugar levels. & If you are otherwise healthy and reduce your sugar intake, you may feel that your anxiety is slowly improving, because excessive sugar can make you experience fewer ups and downs. & Dr. Naidoo said that people with anxiety disorders need to avoid several common causes: hypoglycemia, poor hydration, alcohol consumption, caffeine consumption and smoking (nicotine in cigarettes).

She recommends comprehensive therapy for anxiety, including talk therapy, medication prescribed by doctors, mindfulness exercises, decompression, good sleep hygiene, reducing sugar and processed foods, and a balanced diet, including foods rich in zinc, magnesium and vitamins. In b, omega-3 fatty acids and probiotic foods. Both Dr. Naidoo and Dr. Dow recommend the Mediterranean diet (less sugar, more fish, vegetables, legumes, whole fruits and olive oil) for those who want to get rid of sugar while alleviating anxiety symptoms. A 2017 study found that this diet not only prevents emotional symptoms, but also treats them.

What do you think? Are you fighting anxiety? Have you noticed that sugar can aggravate your symptoms? Have you ever tried to reduce your sugar intake? Have you noticed any changes in your symptoms? Have you made any other dietary changes? Share your stories, suggestions and questions in the comments below.