While anxiety plays out in the brain, it can often start in our stomach. “The foods we choose to eat have a direct effect on our mood, sleep, and physical health, all of which are connected to our behavioral well-being and the potential for feeling more anxious,” Jason Doescher, MD, chief medical officer at Mobe, told POPSUGAR.
He explained that food plays a substantial role in mental health because our gut directly impacts the production of neurotransmitters. These chemical substances carry messages from the gut to the brain. Inflammation in the stomach reduces our body’s ability to absorb the nutrients needed to produce key neurotransmitters.
While food sensitivities that trigger inflammation and anxiety may vary by person, POPSUGAR spoke to several experts to learn what foods are the common culprits. Keep reading to learn about 12 foods you should try to avoid if you suffer from anxiety.
