Anxiety and Wellness Approaches
We all suffer from some form of anxiety--whether it's
*fear of flying,
*fear of insects,
*fear of (you name it!),
*panic attacks,
*heart palpitations,
*stammering,
*trembling when speaking up or giving a presentation to others,
*social situations
*or other signs of fear of the unknown.
Each of these behaviors can reduce the quality of life or the level of wellness, but there are things you can do to feel
better and be well.
New research shows that what you eat can affect your level of anxiety.
Study Results:
* dietary pattern characterized by vegetables, fruit, meat, fish, and whole grains was associated with lower odds for major
depression or dysthymia and for anxiety disorders.
* A "western" diet of processed or fried foods, refined grains, sugary products, and beer was associated with a higher risk
for anxiety and depression.
Conclusions: They concluded that if you eat junk foods you're more likely to be anxious and depressed. If you eat whole
foods, you have a much lower risk of being either anxious or depressed.
But one caveat here,high-quality meat is difficult to come by in the United States. This is because most of the cattle in
North America are raised — from birth to death — in feed lots, where they are fed a corn-based diet.
This method of raising cattle may have a "profound impact" on the quality of the meat because it increases saturated and decreases
very important good fatty acids. In contrast, in Australia, beef and lamb comes from pasture-fed animals who contain a much
healthier fatty acid profile.
So, if you plan to eat meat as part of your anxiety and depression food plan...
1. eat Australian meat
2. find animals who are pasture-fed
3. contact meat producers in this country to request they go back to pasture-fed animals
What else can you do?
I wrote LIVING WELL WITH ANXIETY: WHAT YOUR DOCTOR DOESN'T TELL YOU...THAT YOU NEED TO KNOW---to help you deal with your
anxiety and stay calm.
This book not only provides helpful nutrition tips, it also includes
exercise,
herbs,
environmental
changes,
body-mind approaches,
finding a support group and health care practitioner who is open to alternative approaches,
and more...
Publisher's Weekly says what makes this book stand out are the "person-centered strategic action plans." But this
book offers a lot more, including:
*Clinical accurate overview of anxiety and its causes and effects
*Contrast of medical and holistic treatments
*Information-packed chapters providing a thorough examination of nutrition (to identify missing anxiety-reducing nutrients)
*Herbal supplements
*The impact of nicotine, alcohol and chemicals on anxiety
*Time management skills
*The potent antianxiety effects of exercise
*Situations that require psychotherapy or couseling
*A comprehensive checklist for finding a practitioner
*How to create your own Anxiety Success Plan (sample included!)
Publishers Weekly ends with: "For millions of sufferers from generalized anxiety, panic disorder, phobias and other
forms of anxiety who don't want medication, this book provides viable alternatives to traditional medicine."
Jean Borysenko, PhD, author of Minding the Body, Mending the Mind and Inner Peace for Busy people said about Living Well with
Anxiety...
"Anyone who suffers from anxiety should read this concise, helpful, easy-to-follow guide. It can change your life!"
