Discover How This Surprising Food Could Help Alleviate Your Social Anxiety, Says New Research

Dealing with anxiety can be tough, but simple changes might help. Breathing exercises, getting enough sleep, and cutting back on caffeine often improve feelings of stress. Surprisingly, eating pickles and other fermented foods may also boost your mood.

A study in Psychiatry Research suggests that fermented foods, rich in probiotics, could help alleviate social anxiety. Researchers surveyed around 700 college students about their consumption of fermented foods over a month. They aimed to see if these foods influenced anxiety levels.

Professor Matthew Hilimire from William & Mary noted, “The probiotics in fermented foods may change the gut environment, which can affect social anxiety.” He found that people who ate more fermented foods reported less anxiety, especially among those with higher levels of neuroticism.

Interestingly, the study also found that regular exercise contributed to reduced social anxiety. Health coach Lisa Newman highlights the connection between gut health and anxiety, explaining that understanding this link can help address both issues.

Besides pickles, foods like kimchi and sauerkraut might also aid in managing anxiety. While the findings are promising, researchers caution that more studies are needed to confirm the direct impact of these foods. Nonetheless, incorporating them into your diet could complement healthy habits like exercise.

Overall, finding simple solutions for anxiety can pave the way for feeling better. For more on the mind-gut connection, you can read more about the ongoing research on the subject here.

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dealing with anxiety, fermented foods, social anxiety, anxiety, pickles