We are What We Eat

So you've done your meditation, yoga, tried everything your therapist has asked you to do -- and still not able to rid yourself of anxiety? Have you looked at your diet lately?

Of course you know that 5 cups of latte a day is not going to lower your anxiety one bit. Caffeine is a notorious culprit behind generalize anxiety and panic attacks. (And yes, that includes caffeine in your cola and energy drinks.)

But do you know that nicotine is as strong as caffeine in stimulating you physiological arousal? Considering that smokers tend to feel a sense of relief and calm when they light up, it may be surprising to them to know that smoking actually causes constriction of the blood vessels and therefore causes their heart to work harder, resulting in increased stress.

Excessive salt raises your blood pressure, putting strain on your heart and speeding up the process of arterosclerosis. It also depletes your body of potassium, an important mineral in the proper functioning of the nervous system.

Artificial preservatives such as nitrites, monosodium glutamate (MSG), and artificial colorings and flavorings are also responsible for increasing our anxiety. Our bodies are simply not made to process chemicals, and you may even have an allergic reaction to them. Try to eat whole, unprocessed foods and buy organic vegetables and fruits.

Speaking of organic foods, you probably know that a lot of the meat you get in large grocery stores have been fed hormones to promote weight gain and growth. One such hormone, diethylstilbestrol (DES), has caused quite a stir because some believe it causes breast cancer and fibroid tumors. You may want to reduce your intake of red meat, pork, and commercially available poultry, and replace it with organically raised beef, poultry and fish.

According to a Chinese saying, "Disease comes from what we eat." Ok, so they may not have heard about UV rays back when this saying originated, but in many ways this is still true even when we talk about mental well-being, isn't it?