Nutrition and Diet Therapy - Anxiety/Panic

Refined, white flour and sugar products, and processed foods starve the body of B vitamins. This weakens the body and promotes feelings of anxiety. Sweet foods are especially harmful, since their digestion causes a dramatic drop in blood sugar which can be experienced as apprehensive jitteriness.

Take a healthy, whole foods diet containing fresh vegetables and fruits, nuts and whole grains. It is the best insurance against attacks of anxiety. Fruits and vegetables are best eaten raw, such as in a salad. (Many vitamins and the enzymes are destroyed by cooking.)

Make sure your diet contains foods rich in the B vitamins, such as whole grains, nuts, green, leafy vegetables, nutritional yeast, eggs and fish for healthy nerves.

Oats are important for the nervous system. Hazelnuts are a valuable healing food for the nerves, most effective when freshly ground. Honey dissolved in warm milk also has a calming effect on the nerves.

Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and sugar. They worsen anxiety.

Keep a diary of foods you eat and your anxiety attacks. Food allergies and sensitivities may trigger panic or anxiety attacks.

Eat small, frequent meals rather than the three big meals we generally eat.

Foods to Eat

Whole grains, especially brown rice, barley, millet, corn, and wheat
Apricots
Asparagus
Avocados
Bananas
Broccoli
Blackstrap molasses
Brewer's yeast
Brown rice
Dried fruits
Figs
Fish (such as salmon)
Garlic
Green leafy vegetables
Kasha
Legumes
Pulse
Raw nuts and seeds
Seaweeds
Slightly salty foods
Soy products
Whole grains
Yogurt

Foods to Avoid

Coffee
Chocolate
Alcohol
Strong spices
Sugar
Highly acidic foods, such as tomatoes, eggplant, and peppers, which are injurious to spleen