Feelings of anxiety are often due to external stress that disrupts your sense of calm, but there are also lots of internal factors that influence anxiety as well. If you’re wondering why your kids are experiencing anxiety, you should evaluate their diet to see if there are any adjustments you can make. When it comes to figuring out how to deal with anxiety in children, there is no single solution that will fix everything, but integrating certain foods into your kids’ diet can help them experience more feelings of calm.
Salmon
This delicious fish is easy to include in your meals throughout the week and offers a ton of great nutritional benefits for your kids. Fish generally contains lots of Omega-3 fatty acids, and salmon is an especially great source of the Omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA. Both of these fatty acids are beneficial in regulating levels of dopamine and serotonin, both of which help promote feelings of calm. Omega-3 fatty acids are also great for overall heart health and sharp cognitive functioning.
Turmeric
Turmeric is a spice that goes well with a variety of dishes, making it a great staple to always have on hand. Beyond its pleasant flavors, turmeric also contains the Omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, helping to reduce anxiety in your kids. It also contains curcumins, an antioxidant that can help reduce inflammation in your kids and prevent fogginess and reduce feelings of anxiety.
Yogurt with Active Cultures
Getting varieties of yogurt with a label that says “contains live and active cultures” is crucial for this one. Probiotic yogurt is extremely beneficial for gut health, including helping ease symptoms of leaky gut. Consuming probiotics is known to interfere with neurotoxins and free radicals in the brain, which will help reduce nerve damage and help treat anxiety. If any of your kids have dairy allergies, kombucha is another great option for probiotics.
Avocados
This is another food that contains lots of Omega-3 fatty acids, leading to better brain and heart health and lower levels of anxiety. Avocados also contain very high levels of vitamin B6 and magnesium. The combination of using vitamin B6 andmagnesium for sleep and anxiety is very effective and many kids don’t get much of these nutrients from a typical diet.
Find ways to integrate these tasty foods into meals and snacks for your kids and you’ll likely start to see calmer kids and feel less worried yourself.