The fast-paced lifestyle of today is often a source of anxiety and other mental illnesses for most of us. While professional help must be sought for any mental illness that hampers your daily lifestyle, incorporating a few mental health-friendly foods in your diet can help you achieve calmness and relieve anxiety.

Here is a list of the top five foods that have proven results in decreasing feelings of anxiety:

Almonds

Research indicates that lack of magnesium in the human body triggers anxiety symptoms, as low magnesium levels reduce the amount of serotonin produced in the brain. Eating magnesium-rich foods like almonds helps elevate serotonin levels, which reduces anxiety and improves overall brain health.

Karolina Grabowska/Pexels. A handful of almonds a day, keeps anxiety at bay

An ounce of almonds contains about 75mg of magnesium, which accounts for 19% of the daily recommended value.  So, when you are in the mood for some snacking, grab a handful of almonds–your mental health will thank you for it.

Green tea 

Green tea is known to be rich in L-theanine, an amino acid that helps calm down nerves and increases GABA, serotonin, and dopamine production in the brain, all of which are proven to have anti-anxiety effects. The overall effects of L-theanine, along with epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), another antioxidant found in green tea, help relieve anxiety and promote a sense of calmness.

Yogurt

Fermented food items such as yogurt help reduce the symptoms of anxiety in a big way. Fermented foods such as kombucha, miso, yogurt, and pickles are rich in probiotics and help reduce social anxiety. Greek yogurt, which has a myriad of other health benefits too, has a whopping 100 million active probiotic cultures in one gram and is one of the best foods to help relieve anxiety.

Jenna Hamra/Pexels. A bowl of granola, yogurt, and fruit helps calm anxious thoughts

Dark Chocolate

Dark chocolate is another tasty treat that not only elevates your mood instantly but is also a good anxiety buster. Dark chocolate is full of antioxidants and flavonols such as epicatechin and catechin. Flavonols have neuroprotective effects on the brain and also help increase blood flow to this part of the human body.

Dovile Ramoskaite/Unsplash. Dark chocolate puts you in a happy mood

Eggs

Eggs are a rich source of Vitamin D, a vitamin that is often also referred to as the ‘happy vitamin.’ Low levels of Vitamin D in the body lead to feelings of depression and anxiety while eating foods like eggs relieves these symptoms. Eggs also contain tryptophan, an amino acid linked with the production of serotonin that helps reduce anxiety significantly.

Mental illnesses such as anxiety and depression often require professional help but with the right diet, mental well-being can be achieved in a delicious and nutritious way.