The Antianxiety Food Solution: How the Foods You Eat Can Help You Calm Your Anxious Mind, Improve Your Mood, and End Cravings

I first met Trudy Scott a number of years ago when I was attending a professional development workshop she was presenting on the same topic as her book, The Anti-Anxiety Food Solution. As a licensed clinical mental health counselor and psychotherapist in private practice, I am always very interested in learning about more holistic ways to help my clients treat their anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges. Trudy herself sold to me and signed the first copy of her book I ever purchased, at the end of her presentation many years ago. It has proven such an important book in my own life, as well as in my practice, that I have bought several additional copies, for my office to lend to clients, and as gifts to friends and family I believe would benefit from Trudy's research and wisdom. Trudy’s book is filled with real life, practical anecdotes as well as scientific research from leading institutions. Trudy comes to explore a nutritional solution to anxiety from her own personal experience, which she parlayed into solutions for the continuum of mental health concerns. If biology or chemistry are factors, Trudy shows us that nutrition can be a viable solution for mild to moderate, and even severe symptoms of anxiety. In my opinion, psychotropic medications can be quite useful for some people and some mental illnesses, and yet, these medications tend to be prescribed far too often and to easily. Like Trudy, I prefer a more natural and holistic approach, one which allows us to live in balance and harmony with nature. If changing our diet doesn't immediately improve mental health, perhaps adding amino acid food supplements will. Certainly too few people know about nutritional solutions for depression, anxiety, insomnia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, migraine headache, PMS, food cravings, and pain. Trudy's book is filled with not only suggestions but plans for dietary changes or amino acid food supplements, and I know that these work, because I personally have tried a variety of Trudy’s suggestions from her book, and I've made the suggestions to numerous clients, friends and family members who have also benefited from Trudy's research and wisdom. And now, there is robust research supporting this more natural, Earth-based, and holistic approach to health, well-being and wellness. Having had menopausal night sweats to the point of being awakened by them several times each night, I’d read from Trudy that the combined use of GABA and tryptophan or 5-HTP could successfully reduce one’s experience of these sweats or of the frequency, quantity and severity of them. I found 5-HTP to work better for me than tryptophan, and the amino acid “cocktail” I take each evening has resulted in a decrease in sleep disturbances from perhaps 4 or 5 awakenings nightly, to only 1 or 2. That results in a much better quality of sleep. Using Trudy’s training and book as a guide, I have supported clients’ trials and use of amino acids for various concerns such as anxiety, low mood, attentional and concentration issues, food cravings and sleep. Rachael was in recovery and didn’t want to use a psychotropic medication for her anxiety and sleep difficulties. Despite her determination and hard work in learning skills in her psychotherapy with me, she still had some lingering anxiety in social settings and at times, enough to interfere with sleep. Rachael was willing to look at her diet and to end her relationship with caffeine, then tried using GABA Calm sublingual lozenges when she felt an anticipatory anxiety about social situations, or had trouble sleeping soundly. Rachael maintains her 4 years of sobriety and has pushed beyond the former limits of her anxiety to become involved in her church community’s leadership, a certain achievement her anxiety had not previously allowed her. Trudy and her book are the real deal. She has written a clear roadmap for naturally reducing and eliminating anxiety, low mood, depression and many other disruptions in peace and calm of our contemporary lives. Trudy is undeniably solution focused, and her approach of utilizing nutritional solutions can offer real change. I have bought many copies of this book because I am a firm believer in its theoretical and practical realities, as well as in Trudy's ability to positively change lives, one day’s nutritional intake at a time. And in the case of using amino acid food supplements, change can be dramatic and come within five minutes time. If you'd like to step away from Big Pharma and the labyrinth of chemistry it presents, this book is for you. I am an amino acid and Trudy believer. Join me! ~ Adèle V. Bradley, MA, LCMHC New Hampshire, USA

Excellent information. Well written, easy to understand, quick read. Trudy's expert analysis of nutrition and how it relates to anxiety and depression is informative as well as enlightening. She gives practical, easy to follow suggestions for dealing with food intolerances, over consumption of sugar and it's "natural" substitutes, and lists foods to avoid. She provides plenty of info regarding what you CAN eat as well. The book has questionnaires you can fill out to determine if you are low in certain neurotransmitters, if you're eating too much sugar and simple carbs, and the symptoms you will feel. She backs up her claims with studies as well as anecdotal evidence from her years as a holistic nutrition practitioner. She then offers a LOT of information regarding proper diet, GI imbalances, amino acids and other supplements that can help your body heal. She never tries to sell you anything. So many other experts with books have a financial interest in their "cure", but Trudy isn't trying to sell you any supplements, equipment or more books. All the info you need to take control of your mental health through nutrition is in this book. I bought the books by Kelly Brogan and Dhatis Kharrazian, and though informative, The Antianxiety Food Solution gives more practical advice you can put into action. If you have gone on Trudy's "everywomanover29" blog and have thought about purchasing this book, buy it. You'll be glad you did.

This is an outstanding book for both people who suffer with anxiety as well as all health care practitioners. Trudy does a fabulous job of going over natural approaches to treat anxiety. She discusses dietary guidelines in an easy to follow format so the reader understands what foods to include and what should be avoided. Throughout the book, Trudy has wonderful questionnaires to help the reader figure out the root cause of their anxiety. She follows this with solutions. Trudy has a true expertise in working with amino acids to to improve mood and reduce anxiety. She goes over how to assess and safely supplement with amino acids. As a physical therapist, integrative health coach and happiness trainer, I have found this information invaluable. This book really educated me on many new causes and natural treatments of anxiety. I have been able to successfully use the tools I learned to help my patients and clients increase their happiness and improve their quality of life. I highly recommend this extremely informative and well-written book.

Trudy Scott has written one of the most user-friendly, nutrient-based mental health books I've seen. Her work expands upon the work of Julia Ross, her former employer, and brings anxiety into close focus, highlighting diet and lifestyle factors crucial for keeping it at bay. More importantly, Trudy explains her own journey with anxiety and her discovery that she has pyroluria, a cause of anxiety that may be more common than is represented online in articles and research. As a nutrition professional myself, and as a sufferer of pyroluria, I am beginning to see that this may be the most important contribution Trudy makes--introducing the world at large to a little-recognized condition that I imagine is far more common than is currently thought. But, regardless of the cause of one's anxiety, following the recommendations in this book will help. This is where nutritional therapies excel. While pharmaceuticals can ease anxiety symptoms, it is only through diet and lifestyle measures that we can rebuild neurotransmitters and the other chemicals within that confer true health and true vitality. Thank you, Trudy, for this valuable contribution.

For the beginner searching for answers related to changes in mood, this book is a great place to start. Emphasis is on nutritional means to help alleviate feelings of anxiety and panic for those who experience them. The author is a nurse who reviews neurotransmitters in the brain as well and how things pull together systemically to create different moods and ANS responses. That being said the book is a bit outdated and I hope this author will write a sequel as MTHFR mutations are in the vocabulary of many now, and certainly play a role here! They were not mentioned but they should be now. Absorption of nutrients is hindered and B vitamins may not be getting into the cells, so for some, no matter what FOOD you choose, there is a lot of other healing to do to complete those methylation pathways. The author does not really mention testing like the NutrEval (Genova Diagnostics) and others. Treatment needs to be a layer by layer process. I can speak personally about this. Also, the “label” of anxiety (in general) I feel is over used. KNOW your real body signals. Just because you feel warm doesn’t mean you are panicking. Some people don’t regulate body temperature well. Some people have fight or flight because of cortisol issues in their system. Many patients who experience chronic illness also become overly sensitive/aware of what “could” happen i.e.) sudden episodes of tachycardia not related to panic attacks but also blood pressure drops (POTS). Anticipated “anxiety” or worry something might happen when out at the Mall, for example, is not agoraphobia, rather it’s just concern of being uncomfortable in public. A good integrative Dr will treat the symptoms without a label and not tell a patient they are “just anxious or just having a panic attack.” Know yourself, and really communicate well with your doctor. Don’t allow meds to dominate treatment without really delving into the reasons why. There are good resources here, but like I said research and genetic studies have come very far since 2011.

I am also going to go ahead and give this book three stars. Unlike the other 3 star review, I will say that I am a single, white, "affluent" (not really) female and I truly believe in eating organic and local and do the best I can with that. While more difficult, it is possible to live without processed "mainstream" foods. But I digress. This is a great "beginner's" book, if you know very little about these issues. I was hoping that this book would be a God-send. She does have a lot of interesting information in here, laid out in a readable way. However, I was looking for nuance: what does a daily diet plan look like? How do amino acids interact and what combinations should the food be eaten in for maximum potentcy? What are lists of foods that convert to serotonin? ETC. Maybe the book I want to read doesn't actually exist (yet). I am getting The Mood Cure (2004), which she referenced several times as a reference and this might get more into some of the more detailed info I was looking for.

Well written and based on research, her experience with patients, and her own personal experience. This book is chock full of practical advice on diet and supplements for those dealing with anxiety or mental health conditions. I am extremely grateful for doctors and practitioners like Trudy who are willing to share their wisdom with us in an accessible way. I highly recommend this book. I also recommend Trudy's blog and getting on her email list!

I cried my way thru this book ~ out of JOY~ for finally finding a very helpful book! I have been on a journey for 10 years trying to navigate issues with depression, stress, anxiety, insomnia and other fun things. I've been to doctors, psychologists and counselors. I've been put on medication which after many years of that left me suicidal, overweight, depressed and very angry. It is VERY frustrating trying to navigate doctors, testing and information out there that could help you. This summer I read several books that addressed depression from a dietary and nutrition standpoint. This one was the best in my opinion. It's not too long, easy to read and understand, and well organized. And it agreed with several things I had read in other books ~ such as the use of amino acids, vitamins and issues with gluten and sugar to address depression, etc. There's many good 'life stories' in it too which help you relate. Thanks Trudy Scott!

Muy recomendable. No sólo proporciona las claves teóricas para entender el impacto de la dieta en el estado anímico- mental, sino que es un libro práctico que da herramientas suficientes al lector para hacer los cambios necesarios y mejorar su salud.

Book very understandable by anyone, a book HELPING IN HEALING (FAST) WHO HAS PROBLEMS OF ANXIETY PANIC ATTACKS DEPRESSION ... THYROID DISEASES FIBROMYALGIA ... BOOK THAT IS GREAT TO IMPROVE HEALTH !! I HIGHLY recommend it !!

Good book and information for sleep, anxiety, etc problems. I really appreciate the products to ise

This is an excellent book treating anxiety from a natural perspective. This book is easy to read and full of a lot of wonderful information.

Through my life I was always shy & isolated myself from people because I would also blush easily, then in my late teens I had a sudden death and a break up which followed 3 years of Social Anxiety, Paranoia, Fearfulness, Depression and feeling so lost in life. Then I found this book, I cried when I read the section on a genetic condition called Pyroluria (social anxiety), the book explains all about this condition, how to treat it & case studies of people who were just like me, this was incredible support for me. My doctor was no help, anti depressants didn't work on me, I just prayed, meditated and along came the book from higher guidance. The book explains what supplements to take to live a normal life with Pyroluria and also explains about blood sugar problems, allergies etc, because I was also wheat intolerant & I knew when I ate Wheat I would get worse so it is tricky to know which way to turn. Trudy has been great, we have spoke to each other via email as this is Trudy's profession so you can book appointments with her for guidance. (Amen). I purchased many books on the subject but this was the easiest to follow and this book is my social anxiety bible. It is so worth every penny and I am so grateful for it. Thanks & good luck with your journey.