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- A teen suffering from anxiety may gravitate toward certain comfort foods as a kind of self-medication or means of distraction. Unfortunately, many of these comfort foods place an unhealthy emphasis on sugars, starches, fats, and other substances that offer little real nutritional value and only reinforce the urge to self-medicate with them.
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Mar 17, 2023 · Discover which foods and drinks can contribute to anxiety and which ones can help reduce symptoms. Read our expert guide on managing anxiety through your diet.
- Fruit Juice. The fiber in whole fruit fills you up and slows down how your blood takes in energy. Without that fiber, you’re just drinking nutritious sugar-water that can quickly hype you up -- and bring you down just as fast.
- Regular Soda. There's no win for you here: It has all of the blood-spiking sugar of fruit juice with none of the nutrition. Sugar-sweetened drinks like soda have a direct link to depression, too.
- Diet Soda. No sugar, so no problem, right? Not exactly. You may not have the energy crash that comes with having too much sugar, but diet soda may make you depressed.
- Toast. Wait, toast?! If it's made from white bread, yes. The highly processed white flour it's made from quickly turns to blood sugar after you eat it.
- Sugar and Refined Carbohydrat es. Often when we feel bad, we crave sugary sweetness. We love the comfort sweet foods provide, but they don’t love us back.
- Mercury in Top Predatory Fish. While fish is normally a very healthy food, some fish are very high in mercury and should be avoided. Mercury, a known neurotoxin, makes its way up the food chain and can collect in harmful amounts in top predatory fish.
- Artificial Sweeteners. Surprisingly, artificial sweeteners—including aspartame (NutraSweet, Equal), saccharin (Sweet’N Low), and sucralose (Splenda)—can lead to chronically elevated insulin levels, according to studies, which raises your risk for depression, Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease, diabetes, and other health problems.
- Pesticide-Laden Fruits and Vegetables. While fruits and vegetables are critical to vibrant health, some conventionally grown produce has residue of different types of pesticides that we ingest, which can cause ill mental health effects.
Jan 17, 2024 · During teen years, proper nutrition helps with both physical health and mental health by providing essential nutrients, such as omega-3 fats, vitamin D, B vitamins, and more. Eating too much sugar and processed foods can significantly impact mental wellness long-term.
Sep 8, 2023 · Nutrition CAN Soothe Your Teen’s Anxiety and Boost Their Mood. A study published in the “Journal of Affective Disorders” found that teenagers who regularly consume a diet high in processed foods are more likely to develop anxiety and depression symptoms.
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Oct 27, 2020 · Working toward a well-balanced diet with adequate fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and healthy fats remains a good recommendation for those who struggle with anxiety. Avoiding processed foods and foods high in sugar means the body experiences fewer highs and lows of blood sugar, which helps to further reduce feelings of anxiety.
