If you are prone to anxiety and depression, certain foods might not be good for consumption. This article covers the foods you should avoid to stay mentally healthy
Foods to Avoid If You Have Anxiety or Depression
To keep you clear of depression and anxiety attacks, avoid these foods:
Fruit juice
The fiber in the whole fruit fills you up and slows your body’s energy intake. Without the fiber, you are just drinking sugar water. This can get you excited but also bring you down very fast. It’s best to eat your fruit whole.
Regular soda
Sugar-sweetened drinks like soda can cause depression. If you crave a drink, go for seltzer water with a splash of juice instead. This will give you a bubbly fix without consuming too much sugar.
Toast
Toast is made from highly processed flour, quickly turning to blood sugar once you eat it. This leads to energy spikes and crashes which can make your anxiety and depression worse. Instead of using processed flour, it is safer to go with whole-grain bread.
Coffee
Caffeine can make you jittery and nervous if you are not used to it. Caffeine withdrawal can also make you feel bad and lead to depression. If you think drinking coffee causes you problems, cut it out of your diet.
Energy drinks
Energy drinks can lead to irregular heart rhythms, sleep issues, and anxiety. This is because of the high levels of caffeine found in ingredients like guarana. To avoid this, you can drink water instead of an energy drink when you are thirsty. You can also eat fruit if you want a sugar hit.
Frosting
Frosting is sugar loaded with nearly 2 grams of “trans fats” per serving. They are also partially hydrogenated oils used in pizza dough, cakes, and cookies. If you want to eat fat, stick to the good kind obtained from nuts and olive oil.
Soy sauce
If you are sensitive to gluten, it is best to avoid soy sauce. It can cause depression and make you sluggish. To stay safe, always check the product labels before buying.
Doughnuts
Doughnuts are made with different kinds of fats and lots of added sugar. They also have snow-white flour with little fiber, which makes absorption difficult. If you want to eat them, keep them as a treat and not part of your meal routine.
Conclusion
Avoiding these meals will keep your depression and anxiety in check and help you stay healthy. You can also see your doctor for recommendations on meals to improve your mood.
