Some foods that may trigger your anxiety.

Coffee: caffeine is a stimulant, which is why some of us feel jittery after that third cup. In fact, studies suggest too much caffeine can increase anxiety, since caffeine stimulates the body’s “fight or flight” response.

Salt: eating food with too much salt increases blood pressure, which makes the heart need to pump harder. And when that happens, the body releases the stress hormone adrenaline which paves the way for anxious feelings.

Sugar: added sugars cause your blood sugar to go on a rollercoaster ride of spikes and crashes, and with it, your energy also goes up and down. When blood sugar crashes, your mood sours and anxiety levels can spike.

Alcohol: although it may seem like it calms your nerves, alcohol can have a negative impact on hydration and sleep, both of which can trigger anxiety symptoms when suppressed.

Processed foods: the highly refined sweetener high fructose corn syrup is also found in most processed foods, and we all know how sugar can affect stress levels.