Living with social anxiety is not a walk in the park. However, the symptoms of this painful disorder can be reduced by eating fermented foods. What exactly is it that makes them such a miracle drug?
Social anxiety is nothing special. It is a very common “disorder” that, according to the open Internet encyclopedia Wikipedia, affects up to 40 percent of the world’s population. Its occurrence does not depend on gender, intelligence, education or place of residence. All you have to do is get old. Professional literature indicates that most patients develop it during adolescence, between 14 and 20 years of age. For some, it goes away on its own over time, while for others it sets them up for difficult times in life.
Terror at Every Turn
At the center of the problem of social anxiety is a person’s fear of the prying eyes of others. The concerned person fears that others will evaluate, judge, criticize, slander, and belittle them. He is also terrified of losing control during a situation, because fear consumes him completely and he panics, making him completely stupid. For this reason, he prefers to avoid being in society, as he naturally wants to minimize the risk of humiliation. How does it feel to live with this burden? Very difficult, because even ordinary things, like buying food or visiting relatives, can turn into fake horror. This phobia is said to be incurable and its symptoms only decrease. For a long time, this was done only with the help of drugs, but a new study found other surprising inhibitors. It’s fermented food!
If it’s Cabbage, then it’s for Everyone!
Sauerkraut, kimchi, pickles, tempeh, miso, kefir, or aged cheeses. This is only a small part of fermented foods that have been shown to promote the harmonious functioning of the digestive process, improve the availability of vitamins, work against infections and strengthen immunity. But it does not end there, because it also has a very positive effect on the psyche, which is why American scientists from the University of Maryland see them as suitable treatments for people who suffer from social anxiety. According to their research, fermented foods significantly reduce this phobia, especially in the young. As you can see, a healthy gut microbiome really is the foundation of health and mental health!
