Inflammation is the root cause of disease, and yet, people still fill their bodies with inflammatory foods every single day.
I’m not innocent.
Now and then I’ll have a little sugar or indulge in too much sushi, but my body will quickly respond by creating physical and mental symptoms of inflammation like extra mucus and sluggishness, along with bouts of depression and anxiety.
I’ll immediately start to increase my antioxidants through plant-based foods and water intake so I can start to feel like myself again.
Most people experience these symptoms on the daily, yet ignore their body signals and instead subject it to more inflammation by trying to counteract these symptoms with sugar, caffeine and alcohol.
Take time to listen to what your body is trying to tell you and ditch the inflammatory foods and drinks. Just doing this alone will begin to limit the effects of stress.
The biggest anxiety trigger foods are:
🍬 Sugar
🥛 Dairy
🍞 White flour
🥩 Red meat
🍔 Processed foods
By reducing inflammation, not only will you decrease your risk of disease, you’ll feel better, more energized and happier than you ever did on those endless donuts and bottomless cups of joe.
We’re all different and our bodies react in different ways to certain foods, but for me, the following 3 foods really trigger anxiety and I noticed positive changes when I cut them out of my diet.
🍭 Sugar: causes rapid spikes in insulin
A rapid spike in insulin can leave you feeling shaky and tired when your insulin levels drop back down.
If you suffer from anxiety, you’ll be especially sensitive to these dramatic ups and downs with your sugar levels.
Ditch the white stuff and opt instead for natural sugar options such as maple syrup, raw honey, coconut sugar, or stevia.
Can you guess my favourite? I’ll give you a clue….it’s reallly good on pancakes!
🥐 Gluten: overprocessing causes inflammation
There’s lots of controversy surrounding gluten, a protein found in wheat, but whether you have a gluten sensitivity or not, this protein is not good for anyone in my opinion.
Bread has become so processed today that even if you don’t have celiac disease, gluten can cause inflammation in your gut.
Inflammation can cause anything from stomach cramps, bloating to mood issues including depression and anxiety.
There are many gluten-free options these days, but most don’t contain the best ingredients.
In fact, sugar is a common ingredient in gluten-free products as it adds taste!
Always check the label and look for loaves of bread that have added seeds and nuts for a nutrient boost.
🐮 Cows milk: leads to hormone imbalance
No, you won’t suffer from a calcium deficiency if you cut out milk! Cow’s milk has a very specific makeup, intended to help a calf grow.
It’s filled with hormones that interfere with our own hormones when we drink it.
Dairy also causes inflammation in the body and this, along with an imbalance in hormone levels can wreak havoc with your anxiety.
Don’t be scared to try the dairy-free options, they are surprisingly good, I especially love almond and cashew milk; cashew ice-cream is my go-to treat!
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