Vegan diet helpful in anxiety reduction?!
I think this is an experiment worth trying. I am in the process of doing a TON of research on nutrition (especially since I go to college and am on a meal plan. Yikes.) And the change would be gradual, but I'm willing to bet that it will make a difference.
Answers: I think I recall having read several times that a healthy diet can improve one's anxiety. So, my question is, has anyone gone vegan and seen improvement in their anxiety? (as in, anxiety disorder. I was diagnosed with one about a year ago.) I'm currently a lacto-ovo vegetarian and am seriously considering the switch to veganism. It occurred to me that a change in diet could very well make a sizable difference in my anxiety, especially since I would have to cut a lot of junk food out of my diet due to the milk and egg content. I have heard so many accounts of people feeling better mentally and physically after such a switch.
I think this is an experiment worth trying. I am in the process of doing a TON of research on nutrition (especially since I go to college and am on a meal plan. Yikes.) And the change would be gradual, but I'm willing to bet that it will make a difference.
I really think it does. I just became a vegetarian less than a month ago and a vegan about a week or two ago and I really have had a reduction in my anxiety (I was literally suffering from severe depression prior to then and I think this, in addition to talking to people and taking St. John's Wart, has all contributed to my improved well being).
Personally I also feel better knowing that every time I do not eat a meat product, I am doing my part (the only thing I have control over) in lessening the killing/torture of animals - and that has helped relax me overall as well.
But, yes, I do believe that there are nutritional reasons for it, as well, as has been mentioned by others above.
Yes, a vegan diet is good for reducing anxiety, if you eat a balanced diet rich in whole foods, and avoid highly processed, packaged food, and fast food.
Eating lots of fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts and seeds improves your digestion. Improved digestion improves circulation. Improved circulation improves brain function, elevates mood, and decreases inflammation and stress on all of the body's tissues.
I'm an ovo lacto veg trying to go vegan too! A well balanced vegan diet with plenty of fruit and veg will not only make you LOOK good but FEEL great too!!
My suggestion would be to make sure that you keep up on the vitamin B12. The research that I have been doing is showing that even meat eaters seem to have a lack of this vitamin - not just vegetarians/vegans.
A lack of this vitamin can cause personality changes, depression, etc. (there is actually an article about it in "Vegetarian Times").
So make sure that you eat things fortified with B12 or supplement for that vitamin.
Healthy eating (IMO) can help reduce anxiety. A lot of food people eat are filled with sugar and caffeine. Caffeine can have an adverse affect of someone with anxiety.
However, there is more to reducing/curing anxiety than just diet. It is also recommended by many professionals that you begin a daily exercise routine(at least 20-30 min a day). You should begin cutting out caffeine and high sugar food/drink. If you drink/smoke, cutting that out can help as well.
Personally I stay away from high sugar foods, caffeinated drinks, and eat an overall healthy diet. I found that when I used to drink caffeinated sodas, coffee, etc I was more prone to anxiety. While changes in diet has helped to reduce my symptoms of anxiety, I cannot say it was the only thing. I also started exercising, daily meditation, positive thinking techniques, behavior modification, etc.
I don't think it could hurt to try a diet change, it can only help you if it works. I would just remind you to take it slow. Some people can make drastic changes overnight, but others need time to adjust, otherwise they quit(too many changes become overwhelming). I would suggest taking two or three weeks to completly cut out everything.
yes