How I Learned to Calm My Anxiety with a Fork

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If you had told me a few years ago that I could ease my anxiety with what I put on my plate, I would have laughed — nervously, of course. Back then, my go-to solution for stress was half a bag of sour gummy worms and three hours of mindless scrolling. I thought “eating for mental health” sounded like one of those fancy Instagram slogans, not something that could actually work.
But after one too many sleepless nights and panicky mornings, I realized something had to change. I started digging into the idea that food could actually talk to my brain — and what I found honestly blew my mind. I decided to make a few small shifts in what I ate, and it completely changed the way I felt.
Spoiler: you don’t have to overhaul your life. A few smart choices (and a few Amazon clicks) made a huge difference for me. Here’s exactly what helped — and how you can start too.
Step 1: Fix the Gut, Calm the Brain
One of the first things I learned was that your gut talks to your brain more than you realize. I always thought digestion was just digestion. Turns out, about 90% of your serotonin (the happy brain chemical) is made in your gut. If your gut is upset, your brain’s probably upset too.
One of the easiest ways to start healing my gut was with a probiotic supplement. I added Physician’s Choice 60 Billion Probiotic to my routine, and honestly, within two weeks, my stomach wasn’t staging daily protests anymore. Less bloating, fewer rollercoaster emotions.
I also started mixing a prebiotic fiber powder into my morning smoothie — Gobiotix Prebiotic Fiber Boost. It’s like giving the good gut bugs a five-star breakfast every day.
Step 2: Blood Sugar is the Hidden Villain
Next, I found out that blood sugar crashes can mimic anxiety attacks. Every time I skipped breakfast or ate something super sugary, I’d get shaky, irritable, and convinced the world was ending. Sound familiar?
To keep my blood sugar stable, I started always pairing carbs with protein and fat. That’s when I found some lifesaver snacks:
• RXBAR Protein Bars — made with simple ingredients like dates, nuts, and egg whites.
• Wonderful Pistachios — a handful after lunch keeps me from crashing by 3 PM.
At first, it felt weird to reach for nuts when I was anxious. But after a week or two, it became second nature — and the 3 PM energy crashes pretty much disappeared.
Step 3: The Power of Omega-3s
Another thing I learned was that omega-3 fatty acids are basically nature’s anti-anxiety pills. They’re crucial for brain health and help keep inflammation down, which can mess with your mood.
Since eating salmon every day wasn’t realistic for me, I started taking Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omegacapsules. After a few weeks, I realized I wasn’t catastrophizing everything. Like, maybe my friend not texting back didn’t mean she hated me forever. Progress!
Step 4: Magnesium — The Mineral We All Forgot
Magnesium was a total game-changer. Apparently, most people are low in magnesium without realizing it — and low magnesium = higher anxiety.
I started drinking Natural Vitality Calm Magnesium Powder in warm water before bed. It tastes like raspberry lemonade and feels like a cozy hug for my nervous system. Not only did I fall asleep faster, but I also stopped waking up with that pit-of-your-stomach panic feeling.
Step 5: Real Food First
Supplements helped, but real food made the biggest difference. I started building my meals around:
• Lots of colorful veggies (for fiber and antioxidants)
• Lean proteins (like chicken, fish, or beans)
• Healthy fats (avocados, olive oil, nuts)
To actually enjoy eating more veggies, I got myself a OXO Good Grips Salad Spinner. Dry, fresh greens make salads 1000% better — and when my salad doesn’t taste like wet paper towels, I’m actually excited to eat it.
And because I’m always in a rush, I also invested in a Vitamix E310 Blender for easy smoothies. Spinach, frozen berries, protein powder, almond milk — done. In 60 seconds, I’m sipping a meal that actually helps my brain instead of hijacking it.
Step 6: Ditch the Shame, Not the Joy
One last thing: healing isn’t about being perfect. There are still days when I stress-eat nachos or forget my probiotics. Life happens.
Instead of beating myself up, I remind myself: every small step is a vote for feeling better. Every nutrient-packed snack, every good night’s sleep, every balanced meal adds up.
It’s not about restriction. It’s about adding more good stuff until the not-so-great stuff just starts to crowd itself out.
Food isn’t magic. But wow, it’s pretty close.
Want to Try It? Here’s My Starter Kit:
• Physician’s Choice 60 Billion Probiotic
• Gobiotix Prebiotic Fiber Boost
• Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega
• Natural Vitality Calm Magnesium Powder
• OXO Good Grips Salad Spinner
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, just start small. Pick one thing. Make one swap. Add one veggie. You don’t have to overhaul your whole life overnight.
Trust me — if I, the girl who once considered Cheez-Its a food group, can do it, you absolutely can too.
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I may earn from qualifying purchases, but this does not affect my recommendations.I only suggest products I’ve personally vetted.

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