Can I cure anxiety through diet?

[Create10]

And if so, which diet?

I am absolutely fed up of the constant anxiety, and really want to tackle it next year. I have been aware of ultra processed foods for a while, and try and generally lower the amount I have but am not strict at all.

I have a generally healthy diet (usually eat a few different vegetables a day, drink plenty of water, most of my evening meals home cooked, can count on one hand how many takeaways I've had delivered this year), but also love sandwiches made from cheap white bread, the odd bag of crisps, Haribo or bar of chocolate, and I'll eat sausages, ham, supermarket sauces, cafe scones etc.

I have read about diet 'curing' anxiety, and it always tends to be from eating a really unprocessed diet. I've tried to be strict before but it always seems to cause worse anxiety and unbearably bad PMS, which is the opposite of what all online advice is. I'm not sure if this is normal to begin with and I have to persevere?

Has anyone got anyone got any success stories? I cannot face another year of being controlled by anxiety.

I could have sworn I posted this in chat. I'm sure I checked it.

Apologies anyway! It was not for AIBU.

And actually, if anyone has any success stories about any other way they've cured their anxiety I'd be very interested in hearing those too.

I would like to know this too. Fed up with worrying non-stop.

Google says no
There aren't any diet changes that can cure anxiety, but watching what you eat may help … and there is research that has linked good gut health to improving (not curing)anxiety issues.
joinzoe.com/learn/gut-health-and-anxiety

I drink kefir daily as that is proven to improve gut health, I even started with the cold showers as that is proven to improve anxiety! It was hell but I did get up to 2.5 mins daily for 7 months but I’m now far to cold to continue them. Neither of these things or giving up alcohol, drinking a vegetable smoothie a day, doing yoga, meditation or vigorous exercise has cured my anxiety. Going natural with my skin/hair care to reduce chemicals in my endocrine system, going vegetarian, nothing works. I even take medication but am still anxious.

I’m hoping someone comes along with a miracle cure!

I'll caveat this by saying I'm not a therapist, don't suffer from anxiety generally, and eat a fairly decent diet with the occasional lapse but my Achilles heel is biscuits/cake/sweets.

So it sounds like it's something else you can become anxious about to be honest.

Everyone eats crap sometimes. They are tired, drunk, stuck for alternatives or just really fancy a crisp sandwich and some shite they are as a child. It's entirely normal. It's not normal to obsess about it beyond, what was I thinking, that was not as good as I remember and vowing to be more sensible next time.

I don't think you can diet yourself out of anxiety unless you regularly drink 40 cups of coffee a day and wind down with a bottle of red all to yourself. If so you probably aren't sleeping very well.

You need to address what's causing this head on. Have CBT, see a therapist, or a doctor. Take up a new hobby - for example indoor climbing is great to take your mind off things. You have to to focus on the climb/not falling off; not the crap day at work you just had.

My GP suggested it can help with anxiety as a result of ADHD so it’s certainly possible.

High sugar and whole grains were two to avoid!

Offering these up if you fancy trying a couple of different things to see if they work for you at all - no harm trying after all..

if I find myself suddenly overwhelmed by ‘everything’ with no obvious reason and feel myself falling into depression the two things I make myself eat are things high in omega 3 (salmon/kippers/sardines) and iron (steak & spinach)

sounds weird but honestly I almost always feel so much better within 24/48 hours when I remember to do this - it’s just managing to think logically and remember to do this asap for me.

i think a change of mindset from things being ‘bad’ to nourishing your body with food is a far less stressful way of eating. You simply feel better full stop when you are eating good food. Instead of feeling bad about having a white bread sandwich focus on the bits that you know were great.

It sounds like basic bullshit but I promise it is properly life changing reframing thoughts around food. I definitely feel zero guilt or anxiety around the food I eat or in general. I make much better food choices.

i also take Utmost me neuro rest when my sleep goes funny. I think this really helps my mind remain calm. I only take it a few times a month now.

Yep, I feel your pain. It is so annoying, and it seems as though nothing works. Did the cold showers make any difference at all?

Surely someone has got the miracle cure? 😭

Not overly disappointed I don't need to bother giving up the wine though.

That's interesting, thanks.

There are very very interesting links between the gut microbiome and health, lots available if you google. Reframe it eat to feed your gut bugs, if that makes sense, pre and probiotics are both important.

Thanks for the reply. I don't have any anxiety around food at all - the anxiety stems from other things and I am just trying to find some way to cure it.

I have had therapy. I had a course of EMDR which did really help. It feels like it's settled down from when it was really bad and I went and sought help and is now a manageable, but ever present, but lower level anxiety.

I actually tried climbing last year as part of a mission to find a sport I actually enjoyed, because all articles on Google say that exercise helps anxiety. I was dreadful at it, did not enjoy it at all 😅. I do run but when the streets are this icy and the nights so, so dark I can't get out as much as I'd like to.

fems-microbiology.org/gut-microbiome-and-mental-health/

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5641835/

www.science.org/content/article/meet-psychobiome-gut-bacteria-may-alter-how-you-think-feel-and-act

lots of info available if you google

Friend went gluten free in doctors advice - blood test showed gluten intolerance. Her anxiety reduced to the point she was able to stop taking anti depressants

Thank you very much.

I keep reading that it can make a difference, and I try things but nothing works, so I was hoping to hear people's success stories to be inspired to really stick with it.

That's really interesting. I will look into that, thanks.

I found taking vitamin D daily has definitely helped, I used to be quite shaky and tearful (even more so when on hormonal contraception)

going alcohol and caffeine free instantly reduced mine by around 90%

I don't know about anxiety as a condition, but diet can definitely impact mood. I would aim to cut right down on sugar and alcohol if you have them, and to up your intake of healthy fats. The point about gut health is important too, as others have already said.

Hi, I don’t agree that diet can have zero affect.
I changed my diet starting 1/1/14.
There is certainly more ways than one of thinking about whether food or supplements can help.
essential oils are worth researching, as several are known to be anxiety reducing.
I do agree that exercise can be therapeutic.
if you formerly enjoyed running/jogging, try rebounding. It takes up so little room, is much less “damaging” to your body than running/ jogging.
I do it to my favourite music audio or video.
it exercises my whole core, and it makes me feel great, happy, and in this weather, it delays me having to put heating on! (Bonus 👍)
I take it in back garden (I’m not overlooked by neighbours) come the warmer months.
The biggest effort you can make right now, is do your research.
it’s all available online.
also remember, if you feel it’s working for you, then it is.
Just because a friend says it didn’t work for them, shouldn’t deter you.
we can’t all like the same thing, nor do we need to with such a variety of methods to feel better.

also, btw… have you had a blood test?
low b12, low vit d can all have an impact.
get your thyroid function tested too.

I forgot to wish you good luck in your endeavours.

Magnesium can help. Reduce caffeine and excess sugar. I have had cbt for my anxiety. Diet stuff can ease if a little. Also exercise to get rid of cortisol and adrenaline.

There are really miracle cures for curing anxiety - drugs designed for exactly that purpose! If you are feeling really bad, despite doing all the usual things (cutting out caffeine, alcohol etc), why not consider it? The modern ones aren't bad for you.

I did find keto made me a bit less anxious. However it's quite an extreme diet, possibly worse for your health than proper meds (depending on what you're eating), and certainly less effective. Although having a healthy diet is of course important, I do think there is a tendency to blame / praise it for everything. Sometimes people are just anxious.

Dropping the caffeine can help

There are lots of YouTube contributors that believe that going LowCarb can affect mood and anxiety along with many other diseases/conditions including depression and dementia. LowCarbDownUnder is a main one - Dr Tro, Amy Berger to name a few. I followed a LowCarb diet to improve my health and it has been great for me, weight loss, no IBS or heartburn etc. The science is very interesting