“Implications of this study are that higher levels of intake of fried foods, especially potatoes, cause increased levels of acrylamides in the blood. The higher levels of this toxin cause distinctions of nerve cell function in the brain and [may] cause depression and anxiety.
From the usual suspect caffeine, sugar to cheese, potatoes and tomatoes, here's a list of foods that may be making you anxious due to their excessive consumption. Anxiety is one of the leading causes of insomnia.
Highly processed foods – like breads, cakes, processed meats, cheese and ready-made meals – could trigger anxiety by increasing inflammation in the body, says Dr.
Hypoglycemia. Low blood sugar, known as hypoglycemia, can occur after eating. It's followed by insulin production and an increase in epinephrine, which may be associated with symptoms of anxiety.
Difficult experiences in childhood, adolescence or adulthood are a common trigger for anxiety problems. Going through stress and trauma when you're very young is likely to have a particularly big impact. Experiences which can trigger anxiety problems include things like: physical or emotional abuse.
Medical research has linked magnesium to reduced anxiety. Magnesium helps you to relax by stimulating the production of melatonin and serotonin which boost your mood and help you sleep. Magnesium also reduces the production of cytokines and cortisol, which lead to increased inflammation and stress.
The best stress-relieving drinks include ginger, chamomile tea, valerian, black tea, coconut water, milk, green tea, coffee, lemon balm tea, water, and vegetable and fruit juice. Aromatherapy is another self-soothing practice shown to have benefits for mental health. You can read more about it here.
The B-vitamins in bananas, like folate and vitamin B6, are key to the production of serotonin, which can help improve your mood and reduce anxiety. For an extra stress-busting boost, top bananas with almond, peanut, or cashew butter.
Eating potatoes without removing the alkaloids leads to the development of symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomachache, feeling of weakness, dizziness, and dyspnea about 20 minutes after eating, and food poisoning may develop although it is generally mild.
This is because, as a nutrient-dense carbohydrate, potatoes trigger insulin to allow tryptophan into the brain. This process ultimately creates 5HTP and boosts serotonin… naturally! So consider eating a potato when you're feeling anxiety start to creep in, along with these other Best Foods for Stress Relief.
04/6Impact of potatoes on mental health
“Potatoes are a concern for possible effects of mood because they can cause large surges in blood sugar and then hormonal responses to these surges. However, these surges are partly blunted by fat, which would be provided by the fat from frying.”
While they may provide enough daily magnesium to make a difference with anxiety symptoms, they are not without potential drawbacks. Though magnesium is generally safe, if you take too much, it can cause side effects. Also, magnesium may interact with certain medications, including: antibiotics.
Of note, symptoms of magnesium deficiency and stress are very similar, the most common being fatigue, irritability, and mild anxiety [5,6,7]; further symptoms are shown in Table 1.
Anxiety can be caused by a variety of things: stress, genetics, brain chemistry, traumatic events, or environmental factors. Symptoms can be reduced with anti-anxiety medication. But even with medication, people may still experience some anxiety or even panic attacks.
Blueberries
When we're anxious and stressed, our bodies crave vitamin C to help repair and protect our cells, and blueberries are packed full of it. Small but mighty, blueberries are bursting with antioxidants and vitamin C that have been shown to provide anxiety relief.
Among the children with a food allergy, 57 percent reported having symptoms of anxiety compared to 48 percent of children without a food allergy. Approximately 48 percent of the children had symptoms of depression with or without a food allergy.
If you eat lots of processed meat, fried food, refined cereals, candy, pastries, and high-fat dairy products, you're more likely to be anxious and depressed. A diet full of whole fiber-rich grains, fruits, vegetables, and fish can help keep you on a more even keel.