By Setareh Kiumarsi
Question: Why am I always anxious and restless?!
Answer: “Well, anxiety runs in our family… My work environment is awful… My boss is always angry and constantly stressing me out… It’s the end times… nothing feels right… How could anyone not be stressed?!”
But aside from environmental stressors and genetics, you’ll often see two people in exactly the same situation. One is calm and composed… while the other is anxious, restless, nervous, afraid, and filled with negative thoughts.
Their mind feels like it’s in constant motion… they talk and talk and talk… there’s not a moment of stillness or peace… they’re always spinning worst-case scenarios in their head. For example, if their child is 30 minutes late, they’re already imagining an accident and rushing to the morgue to identify the body!
So what makes the mind become so anxious and dark?
In Ayurveda, when the elements of air and space — or the Vata dosha — go out of balance, these psychological symptoms start to appear.
Just as mentioned here, the digestive tract (especially the small intestine) is considered the second brain of our bodies!
When it gets filled with excessive air and space — and the receptors for brain hormones (many of which are located in the small intestine) are overpowered by qualities of coldness and dryness, a person becomes much more vulnerable to Vata-type emotional imbalances (anxiety, restlessness, fear, emptiness, etc.).
So what can we do — even if we’re genetically prone to anxiety and restlessness, or live in a stressful world — to avoid worsening this anxiety by eating the wrong foods?
In the next sections, we’ll talk about the foods and habits that aggravate Vata (and thus, anxiety and restlessness), and home remedies to support your well-being.
The Relationship Between Caffeine and Stress…
Did you know that caffeine consumption (including coffee, instant coffee, black tea, green tea) has a direct link to increased anxiety and restlessness?
Caffeine, like any other stimulant or drug, triggers the parasympathetic nervous system… it acts like a short-term energizer — wakes you up, eases your fatigue a little…
But it also raises cortisol (the stress hormone) in your body significantly, and increases anxiety.
Plus, it dries out the digestive tract mucosa, and this excess dryness makes you more prone to Vata-type mental imbalances (anxiety, fear, nervousness, etc.).
Many people experience heart palpitations or panic just from drinking black tea or coffee — even just from smelling coffee!
So, if you’re anxious and jittery, even a mild cup of black tea can intensify your restlessness and mental overactivity.
What can you drink instead of tea or coffee to feel refreshed?
Here are some calming and balanced herbal tea blends that can replace coffee and tea:
1. Holy Basil + Saffron + Rose Petal Tea
Add a few fresh holy basil leaves, a pinch of saffron, and a pinch of dried rose petals to a cup of boiling water. Let it steep.
Before drinking, add a few drops of lemon juice and a teaspoon of honey.
If you live in the U.S. or Europe, you can find and order Tulsi Brahmi Tea online
(Tulsi = Holy Basil, Brahmi = Gotu Kola).
2. Rosemary + Valerian Root + Rose Petal Tea
Mix equal parts of rosemary, valerian root, and dried rose petals (use whole leaves or roots, not powder).
Break up the valerian root pieces with your fingers so they’re similar in size to the other herbs.
Steep one teaspoon of the mixture in a cup of boiling water when you’re anxious.
Add a few drops of lemon juice and a teaspoon of honey before drinking.
3. Digestive Tea Blend
Combine the following whole seeds/leaves (not powdered) in the specified ratios in a container.
You can use any unit of measure — for example, a small cup:
- Fennel (1)
- Cumin seeds (1)
- Green cardamom (1)
- Rose petals (½)
- Coriander seeds (½)
To make the tea: Steep one teaspoon of the mixture in a cup of boiling water.
Add lemon juice and honey before drinking.
Drink one cup every hour, starting two hours after your meals.
Which Foods Make You Prone to Anxiety and Restlessness (1)?
Legumes
We mentioned that when the digestive tract (your “second brain”) — and the hormone receptors within it — are dominated by qualities of coldness and dryness, Vata goes out of balance, and you become more vulnerable to anxiety, restlessness, fear, and negative thoughts.
So if these emotional signs are common for you, try to avoid foods that are inherently cold and dry.
According to Ayurveda, most legumes (lentils, fava beans, split peas, beans, chickpeas, etc.) are very drying to the digestive tract, so people prone to anxiety should limit their consumption.
For example, in a stew with legumes, remove most of the legumes before eating.
Avoid dishes based on legumes altogether — like falafel, and thick soups full of beans and chickpeas.
If you do eat legumes, limit it to once every 7–10 days.
Be sure to soak them overnight, change the water multiple times, and cook them with suitable oils (coconut, sunflower, canola, or olive oil) and digestive spices (like fennel, turmeric, cumin, cardamom, thyme, Persian hogweed, rosemary, black seed, saffron, etc.).
Eating digestive lassi alongside legume-based meals also helps digestion and reduces dryness in the digestive tract.
Which foods make you prone to anxiety and restlessness (2)?!
Lettuce and Broccoli
Which foods are very dry and throw Vata out of balance?!
The mint plant (raw mint, mint distillate, and mint tea) has high drying qualities and should be consumed in moderation by anxious individuals!
People prone to anxiety should avoid consuming cold and dry vegetables (such as endive, broccoli, lettuce, Brussels sprouts, white cabbage, red cabbage, celery, kale, cilantro, cauliflower, green beans) raw.
Eating these vegetables raw severely disturbs Vata and makes you more prone to anxiety and restlessness!
Cook these vegetables instead — with suitable oils (like coconut oil, sunflower oil, canola oil, or olive oil) and digestive spices (like fennel, turmeric, cumin, cardamom, thyme, rosemary, black seed, saffron, etc.).
Try to make sure these cold vegetables make up no more than 20–30% of your plate!
So instead of a lettuce salad, go for salads made with warming vegetables (like parsley, basil, cress, savory, spinach, carrots, etc.)!
(For recipe of suitable salad, click on Digestive Salad ).
Which foods make you prone to anxiety and restlessness (3)?!
Potatoes
What other foods are very drying and disturb Vata?
Did you know that contrary to popular belief — which assumes potatoes are phlegmy and moist — potatoes are actually cold and dry, and many people experience bloating after eating them?
Because of their high drying quality, potatoes should be consumed in moderation by people prone to anxiety. If you do eat them, be sure to cook them with warming spices (like fennel, cumin, turmeric, thyme, etc.) and a suitable oil (like coconut, sunflower, canola, or olive oil).
People prone to anxiety should avoid foods that are based on potatoes (like French fries, mashed potatoes, baked potatoes, etc.).
Which foods make you prone to anxiety and restlessness (4)?!
Apples
Apples are heavenly fruits; one of the most effective fruits used in liver detox diets (both the fruit itself and its juice)!
Why? Because in Ayurveda, apples are considered cold and dry. They’re astringent and act like a porous sponge, drawing out excess phlegm.
But did you know the drying effect of raw apple (and also raw pear and quince) is very high? And when consumed daily, they not only absorb undigested phlegm but also severely dry out the mucus lining of your digestive tract… which leads to Vata imbalance, and as a result, increases anxiety, restlessness, and nervousness?!
So, if you frequently suffer from anxiety and restlessness (or other signs of Vata imbalance like bloating, constipation, joint dryness, heart palpitations, lower back pain, joint pain, etc.), it’s best not to consume raw apples (and pears and quince) daily.
Instead, chop the apple and cook it with warming spices (like cardamom, cinnamon, vanilla, or saffron). Add a tiny bit of water, cover the pot, and steam it for 10–15 minutes. Once it cools, drizzle a little honey over it and enjoy!
Did you know that cooked apples or pears help cleanse the liver, clarify the skin, and are one of the most effective remedies for acid reflux?
Continue reading in:
Anxiety and Restlessness 3: What to Eat and Do When We’re Anxious and Worried?
Please credit the author “Setareh Kiumarsi” when republishing this post, which was written with care and in the hope of well-being for all.
