You already know the health mantra, “you are what you eat” but eating healthy isn’t just for people that want to lose weight or increase energy.

Your diet has an effect on your central nervous system. Certain types of foods and beverages can increase your heart rate, make you sweat and even make you feel lethargic. If you’re not getting the right types of nutrients, your body may not be able to cope with stress and certain bodily functions can even break down.

The result?

An increased risk for anxiety and stress and even panic attacks.

Most people eat a very acidic diet, a diet that can exaggerate anxiety and trigger a number of health problems. In order to bring your body back into balance, you need to maintain an alkaline balance in the food you eat.

I explain this in more detail in my book Panic Away. Basically, foods that contain a significant amount of salt, sugar, hydrogenated oils and unhealthy fats can lower your body’s resistance to stress and disease. Eating foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables help raise your resistance.

For optimum balance, you need to aim for an 80 percent alkaline diet. Load up on fruits and raw vegetables and healthy sources of protein so that these foods become a staple of your diet. You’ll soon find that your body becomes stronger and you have more energy. This means lower levels of fatigue and stress throughout the week, which in turn means a lower risk of anxiety.

If you feel you are not prepared to make major changes to your diet then you should as very least  eliminate caffeine and alcohol from your diet. Doing that alone can significantly reduce feelings of general anxiety.

Lastly drink plenty of fresh water daily. I have found that not only does regular intake of water ward off  any subtle feelings of anxiety, but it is also incredibly useful for building stamina and avoiding fatigue.  Give this some real consideration. Simply increasing the  amount of fresh water you drink is a very easy step to incorporate into your daily routine. Most of us fall short  of consuming the recommended amount.

The New Year is a great time to take stock of your dietary habits and make some significant changes. Try it for just a few weeks and notice the difference you feel.

Barry Joe McDonagh
PanicAway.com