SAEDNEWS: Results of studies show that the foods consumed have a significant impact on social anxiety, and the consumption of certain foods greatly helps in controlling and treating shyness.
According to SAEDNEWS, Diet affects not only physical health but also mental well-being. Researchers have found through their studies that there is a direct relationship between consuming fermented foods and social anxiety. In other words, people who eat larger amounts of these foods show fewer symptoms of social anxiety. In the following, we discuss social anxiety and how food can influence it.
According to conducted studies, social anxiety is a type of persistent fear related to social situations and is one of the most common anxiety disorders. Women are twice as likely to suffer from this disorder. It can cause problems in work, school, and personal relationships and often requires cognitive behavioral therapy.
If you are afraid of doing everyday activities such as going to shops or talking on the phone, you may be experiencing a form of social anxiety. Social anxiety disrupts work, education, and social relationships, and its treatment usually involves cognitive behavioral therapy or antidepressant medications.
Recent research published in psychology journals suggests that fermented foods such as probiotic yogurt, dark chocolate, soy milk, sauerkraut, and pickles can help treat severe shyness and social anxiety.
In one study, 710 participants answered a set of questions designed to evaluate their personalities and lifestyles. These questions also included the types of fermented foods they had consumed over the past 30 days.
People who consumed fermented foods rich in probiotics showed fewer symptoms of social anxiety. Previous animal studies have shown that probiotics increase levels of GABA, a neurotransmitter that mimics the effects of anti-anxiety medications such as benzodiazepines, including diazepam.
Researchers reported that the probiotics (beneficial bacteria) found in fermented foods likely alter the environment of the stomach and intestines, thereby influencing the process of social anxiety.
Researchers concluded that consuming such foods encourages the body to increase neurotransmitters that reduce anxiety. They suggested that fermented foods containing probiotics have a higher potential to reduce social anxiety.
