Nutritional supplements in Anxiety Disorder

Abstract

In recent years, a direct relation between the occurrence of anxiety disorders, sleep disturbances, and mood disorders has been observed as a consequence of poor or inadequate diet. Eating habits in Western societies have greatly changed in recent decades, with an increase in the consumption of foods low in vitamin and mineral content, high in caloric value, and rapidly prepared and easily consumed. It may be that the new lifestyles that directly affect family organization and planning interfere with following a proper diet. However, with increasing frequency, especially among young adults, there is interest in healthy and balanced nutrition, as well as learning culinary techniques.

We reviewed the literature for this study, and describe the concept of anxiety and its existence in relation to dietary disorders, as well as alternatives for the treatment of these symptoms. The characteristics of these disorders and their impact on patients are analyzed.

The information used in this work was obtained mainly from PubMed, PsycARTICLES, PsycCRITIQUES, and PsycINFO. It was retrieved using the keywords “mental health”, “nutrition”, “diet”, “phytotherapy”, “natural alternatives”, “anxiety”, “mood”, and “sleep disturbance”.