How to cure your anxiety with carbohydrates

When you get anxiety, what do you reach for? A chocolate bar? A cup of coffee? A fat-filled blueberry muffin? These foods give you comfort because they contain sugars and/or carbohydrates. The problem with these snacks, however, is that they provide a momentary “carbohydrate high” before sending you on a mood-busting crash.

Despite this vicious cycle, there’s still a way to eat yourself out of menopausal anxiety without wrecking your energy for the day. The key is to make smart food choices; read on to find out what those choices are.

How can I eat away my anxiety?

Be complex

Carbohydrates are comfort foods because they release serotonin in the brain, a chemical mood lifter that is considered a natural anti-depressant. However, there are two classes—simple carbohydrates and complex carbohydrates. Simple carbs turn into sugar faster, which is what causes your midday crash and burn. Stick with complex carbs, such as whole-grain bread, crackers, and pasta to get your serotonin boost.

Dress it up

Whole-grain is not as fun to eat because it doesn’t have the flavor of white-flour products, so you should ‘fancy it up.’ To make your wheat crackers more interesting, for example, top them with diced tomatoes and a bit of oregano. It may take a few more minutes of preparation, but you’ll be glad you packed this tasty snack.

Plan beforehand

One of the caveats of making dressed-up snacks is planning them beforehand. Don’t wait until you feel a wave of anxiety rush over you to think about eating because at that point, you’re more likely to rush to the vending machine for a greasy or fatty snack instead of thinking about calories and nutrients. If you pack your snacks with your lunch the evening before, you can start your day worry-free.

Reduce your portions

Even if you must have white-flour bread, pasta, or crackers, cut the portion in half. This will ensure that you don’t consume too much sugar and that you save room for more healthy options.

Think outside the box.

One of the most common ideas that comes to mind when we say “carbs” is bread. However, you can get the same serotonin-inducing carbohydrates from fresh fruits and vegetables. As a matter of fact, an apple contains up to 25 grams of carbohydrates and a banana can contain up to 26 carbohydrates, and they both have 33 percent less calories than a snack bag of potato chips.

Recommendation for treating your anxiety with carbohydrates:

Managing any emotional issue should be the first treatment for night sweats because they are likely to trigger episodes and will make them more intense in length and severity. Lifestyle changes require self-discipline but can be an effective way to eliminate this symptom of “the change”. However, there are alternative ways to manage your night sweats. Follow this link to find out more about treatments for anxiety.