Carbohydrates are thought to increase the amount of serotonin in your brain, which has a calming effect. Eat foods rich in complex carbohydrates, such as whole grains — for example, oatmeal, quinoa, whole-grain breads and whole-grain cereals.
A morning meal is so powerful that a February 2019 Public Health study found that people who regularly ate breakfast were 47 percent less likely to battle anxiety than those who skipped it.
Eggs also contain tryptophan, an amino acid that helps in creating serotonin. The essential neurotransmitter regulates your mood, sleep, memory, and behavior. Serotonin also improves your brain function and relieves anxiety. You can include boiled eggs in your breakfast to relieve stress.
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 which have been shown to provide anxiety relief.
In addition to reducing feelings of anxiety, yogurt has also been found to reduce inflammation in the body. Some researchers suggest that chronic inflammation may contribute to mental health disorders like anxiety and depression.
The “stress hormone,” cortisol, is released by the adrenal glands in response to fear or stress. Researchers have found that cortisol is highest in the first hour of waking for people with an increased level of anxiety. This helps explain why you may experience an increase in anxiety in the morning.
Cortisol Higher in the Morning
Cortisol is the most well-known stress hormone. One theory to explain morning anxiety is that the higher cortisol levels are triggering anxiety in those prone to it, because a person is waking with higher levels of the hormone that's linked to stress.
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.
Besides the homey warmth of this true comfort food, milk has loads of B vitamins that reduce anxiety and improve mood. For instance, vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) raises serotonin levels to perk you up.
Another large study found people who drink five cups or more of water per day were at lower risk of depression and anxiety. In comparison, drinking less than two cups per day doubles the risk. This link was less noticeable for anxiety alone (although feelings of depression and anxiety often influence each other).
If you take magnesium as a supplement, studies that showed that magnesium can have anti-anxiety effects generally used dosages of between 75 and 360 mg a day, according to the 2017 review. It's best to consult a healthcare practitioner before taking any supplement so you know the correct dose for you.
Weetabix is an ideal food from a healthy eating point of view as it is low in fat, high in fibre and low in sugar. It provides an excellent breakfast and an ideal snack any time of the day, including bedtime.
Our patients often ask if they should start eating right away in the morning to jump-start their day. Eating first thing in the morning is not as important as making sure you space your meals out during the day. If you wake up at 7 am but are not hungry until 9 am, it's fine to eat then.
Tips for Reducing Morning Anxiety
For instance, you can engage in exercise, which increases endorphins, improves mental focus, and elevates mood. You can also practice meditation or mindfulness, which can improve ability to calm the mind and stop the cycle of anxious thoughts.
Meditation, mindfulness and prayer all have similar goals — get your mind off future worries and focus on the present. Try to put yourself in a mindful state when you first wake up. Objectively observe your feelings, thoughts and bodily state while trying not to react to them.
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.