Eat Pickles to Reduce Anxiety

If you suffer from anxiety or find being in a crowded place distressing, eating pickles might help reduce your anxiety. Researchers at William & Mary University in Virginia, USA, after studying over seven hundred students, announced that bacteria resulting from food fermentation are effective in reducing anxiety. According to Epoch Times, these researchers monitored all the foods consumed by these students for a month. They also examined the level of exercise, daily activity, and the amount of vegetables and fruits in the students' diets. The results showed that students who consumed more fermented foods (like pickles) experienced less anxiety, particularly social anxiety. The inverse relationship between pickle consumption and anxiety was more pronounced in individuals suffering from neuroticism (a type of mental disorder that impairs decision-making). Dr. Matthew Helimayer, one of the researchers, stated that the probiotics found in pickles likely alter the gut environment, thereby reducing individuals' anxiety levels. This research, published in the journal Psychiatry Research, indicates that the anxiety levels of those who typically experience anxiety in social situations decrease with the consumption of probiotic-rich pickles. Daily, more research confirms the impact of bacteria (found in foods) on the brain and individuals' moods. In a study conducted at McMaster University in Canada, researchers found that a specific probiotic called Bifidobacterium longum is effective in normalizing the behavior of anxious patients. This study demonstrated how internal inflammation can affect the nervous system and lead to anxiety. In another study conducted in France, while confirming the findings of Canadian and American researchers regarding the impact of foods on individuals' moods, it was found that another probiotic called Lactobacillus helveticus reduces psychological stress, anxiety, anger, and depression.