Sometimes the natural way is the better way. While there are many pharmaceutical drugs you can take to ease stress and anxiety, Mother Nature’s cures may possibly be the best.  

Overcoming anxiety without toxic medications and pharmaceutical drugs may seem complicated, but it’s a lot simpler than you might think. There are foods that can help you overcome anxiety and they are tasty and delicious and easy to find.

By choosing the right foods, you can cut down on the amount of anxiety you experience on a day-to-day basis, and get a health boost along the way.

Once you discover the power of using real foods, you will never want to go back to using pharmaceuticals that are loaded with side effects.

1. CASHEWS

If you haven’t had cashews in a while, you might want to consider adding them to your grocery cart, the next time you go shopping. Dr. Andrew Saul from the film Food Matters states that two handfuls of cashews can provide the equivalent of one dose of Prozac, which is quite amazing when it comes down to it. It seems cashews are one of the highest natural sources of tryptophan, which is a precursor for the production of serotonin, the body’s feel-good hormone.

Cashews are also a good source of phytochemicals, antioxidants and protein and are a rich source of iron, magnesium, zinc, selenium and phosphorous. Cashews can help lower blood pressure, help prevent heart attacks and even starve tumors and stop cancer cells from dividing. Rich in the mineral copper, they can also help hair and skin health. Cashews are also good for bone health, good for the nerves and they even help prevent gallstones, a lot of benefits for one nut.

Those who eat nuts a couple of times a week are also less likely to gain weight than those who only eat nuts on occasion. While nuts like cashew nuts are relatively high in fat, it is considered “good fat” which is attributed to the ideal fat ratio in the nut.

Cashew nuts also contain less fat than other popular nuts, including pecans, peanuts, walnuts and almonds. Since cashews are dense in energy and high in dietary fiber, they are a great snack for managing weight gain.

2. ACAI BERRIES

Acai berries are also considered a superfood as they are rich in phytonutrients and antioxidants. The acai is a grape-like fruit that is harvested from acai palm trees, which are native to South America. Acai berries can also help combat a variety of health concerns, including arthritis, high cholesterol and erectile dysfunction.

Moreover, they can also help with skin appearance and aid in detoxification. Acai berries contain not only powerful antioxidants – they are also loaded with fiber and heart-healthy fats.

While acai berries may be touted as a weight loss supplement the berries are a rich source of phytonutrients similar to blueberries, and their antioxidant levels are off the charts.

3. MACA ROOT

Maca root, although not as well known, can be added to several foods and beverages in a powder form. Maca root can be found in health food stores and it is believed that the root contains more phytonutrients than nearly every other type of fruit and vegetable, including magnesium and iron, which are two very important nutrients for controlling anxiety.
Maca root can also be used to increase healthy stamina and energy.

4. ALMONDS

Almonds are another underrated food. They are a rich source of zinc, which just so happens to be a key nutrient for maintaining a balanced mood. Almonds also contain iron and healthy fats. Healthy fats are an integral part of a balanced diet, and low iron levels can even cause brain fatigue, which can exacerbate anxiety and cause a lack of energy.

Almonds help lower cholesterol and they are high in fiber and calcium. They are an excellent source of vitamin E and also contain fiber, magnesium and selenium and are chock full of protein, which can help you feel full longer. Almonds have as much calcium as milk.

Almond oil has been used in complementary and alternative medicine for many years and it has numerous health benefits. Almonds and almond oil have anti-inflammatory, immune boosting and anti-hepatotoxicity effects. Some research studies have even shown that almond oil can reduce the incidence of colonic cancer.

Almonds and almond oil have been shown to have a positive effect on immunity and liver toxicity as well as a positive relationship with the reduction of symptoms of IBS or irritable bowel syndrome. Almond oil has been used historically in Ayurvedic, Ancient Chinese and Greco-Persian schools of medicine to treat dry skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema.

 5. BLUEBERRIES

Fruits like blueberries are considered by some to be one of the highest forms of antioxidants because they happen to have some amazing phytochemicals, which help neutralize damaging free radicals reducing skin and cell damage. Blueberries also contain vitamin C, manganese, vitamin E, and riboflavin.

Blueberries are much more than just a delicious fruit and many people consider them to be a super food. Rich in vitamins and phytonutrients or plant nutrients, blueberries are considered to be very beneficial for relieving stress.

6. CHOCOLATE

The Native American culture utilized chocolate instead of acetaminophen to break a fever and the ancient Greeks used carrots instead of Zantac to sooth an upset stomach. The Aztecs believed avocados were natures Viagra and there is probably much more you could discover if you took a peek back into our history.

Pure, dark chocolate without the added sugars or milk is a great food to help combat anxiety and stress. Since chocolate reduces cortisol, the stress hormone that causes anxiety symptoms, it’s a great choice for helping with anxiety and to calm your mind naturally. Chocolate also has compounds that help improve mood, which is another great reason to keep some on hand.

Throughout history, many cultures have relied on fresh fruits and vegetables to both maintain their health and cure disease.  While we don’t use fruits and vegetables to necessarily cure diseases these days, there’s much that real food can offer you. Fruits and vegetables have some amazing curative and healing properties, and they’re cheaper than any medication you could ever buy.

Eating in a healthy manner is of the best ways to naturally control stress and anxiety. Moreover, adding water is also a great tip, as studies have shown that dehydration affects as many as 25% of those with ongoing and persistent stress and dehydration can even cause more anxiety.

Additionally, to help with anxiety choose foods high in:

• Magnesium
• Vitamin B(-complex)
• Zinc

While food is certainly not the only answer, try some of these for yourself and see what a difference it makes in your level of anxiety and to what degree it can calm your mind naturally.