Feeling anxious or depressed? If yes, then you should try your level best to avoid these food items.

Many of us know that our emotions can control what we want to eat or how much we eat.

But what you may not know is that what you eat can also dramatically alter your mental health.

Some foods can worsen anxiety and depression and if you don’t avoid them things might get worse. So, we bring to you the list of food items that might be increasing your anxiety and depression.

#1 Fruit Juice

If you prefer fruit juice over fruit then you definitely need to read why you should avoid FRUIT JUICES.

The fiber in the fruit is the most nutritious element that fills us up and slows down how our blood takes in energy. Without fiber, one is just drinking nutritious sugar-water that makes us quickly feel energetic and sooner leaves us hungry and angry. Thus, fruit juice never helps anxiety and depression.

Prefer the fruit over fruit juice and when thirsty, drink water.

#2 Sugar-Sweetened Cold Drinks

Sugar-sweetened drinks like regular cola have a direct link to depression. Rather than helping your overcome tough emotions, they might make you more anxious.

#3 Diet Cola

Diet cola doesn’t have sugar so it shouldn’t be a problem, right? Not exactly. Sadly, diet cola may make you feel depressed more than its sugary cousin would.

READ: 10 Things To Can Keep You Happy In Today’s Modern Stressful Life

Additionally, too much of caffeine that many colas have can be bad for anxiety too.

#4 Toast

What, toast?! If it’s made from white bread, yes.

The highly processed white flour is bad for both anxiety and depression. As we eat the processed white flour, it quickly turns to blood sugar and causes a quick rise & quick fall in energy.

So, rather than white bread, try out whole-grained bread.

#5 Ketchup

Yes, Ketchup!

You much be thinking it is mostly tomatoes, right? Sadly, it is tomatoes and sugar. Lots of sugar. Even artificial sweeteners are linked to anxiety and depression.

If you desperately want to have ketchup along with your food, try homemade tomato salsa instead.

#6 Coffee

This might be the most loved item on the list.

Caffeine in coffee can actually make you jittery and nervous rather helping your anxiety and depression. Caffeine withdrawal can even make you feel worse.

If you are like one of us, who can’t stay without coffee, switch to decaf from normal.

#7 Sweet-loaded Desserts Or Eateries

We all love them, and little treats now and then can help your mood. But what if you start making them a routine. Majorly, all the desserts have the wrong kinds of fats – white flour with little fiber and loads of sugar that doesn’t help people with anxiety and depression.

#8 Energy Drinks

If you have been fooled by the commercials that proclaim that energy drinks are really healthy, then you need to know that they rarely are.

They can lead to an irregular heartbeat, anxiety and sleep issues. And, it is all caused because of the special ingredient – guarana – that has sky-high caffeine levels and loads of sugar hidden in it.

If you’re thirsty, drink water. If you want a sugar hit, eat fruit. Because energy drinks can worsen your depression or anxiety levels.

#9 Fried Food

All of us are aware of the harmful effects of fried food – be it fried chicken or fried cheese sticks or french fries. You might know the harmful effect on your heart and on your weight. But, do you know they are directly linked to depression as well.

#10 Fast Food

Most of the time out of convenience or purely indulgence, we rely on hamburgers, hot dogs, pizza, and commercial baked goods. Now, if it is eaten once a while then its fine. But if fast food has entered into your regular diet, it is bound to make your depression and anxiety worse.