Research shows that caffeine is one of the biggest nutritional contributors to stress but is by no means the sole instigator.
Nicotine and sugar are also substances that studies have indicated contribute to anxiety attacks.
The concentration that they exist in the diet can be a factor in the severity of anxiety attacks and relief from those attacks can come by removing them from the diet.
Ending consumption of these three items can improve the days of the anxiety attack sufferer by allowing their medical doctor to cut medicine levels as they experience a smaller number of attacks.
As to how body stressors go, nicotine is very strong.
It impacts the body as keenly as caffeine but with more risky side effects.
Like caffeine, nicotine is physically addictive, but in contrast to caffeine, it is also mentally addictive.
Nicotine has a reputation for calming a person down during or following a tense situation, but that respite is unfortunately momentary.
When a nicotine consumer does not have the drug in their veins, they are often worried or uneasy while they pass the time for their next cigarette.
This jumpiness also affects the sleep cycle and causes the smoker to not sleep very well.
Ample rest is vital for a panic sufferer to reduce feelings of anxiety.
A more difficult substance to lessen from the diet is sugar.
The body, above all the brain, requires glucose to correctly work, but the body is specific about what kind of sugar it needs most.
Glucose is the sugar that the body needs to work most effectively, and it is best derived from complex carbohydrates.
Providing a consistent release of glucose into the body, complex carbohydrates process slowly.
This is as opposed to simple sugars because they breakdown into glucose very quickly and put too much glucose into the body too quickly.
Continuous exposure to an unending supply of high levels of glucose can cause health problems such as diabetes or hypoglycemia.
Hypoglycemia has symptoms that mimic those of anxiety attacks and some researchers think that some panic attack suffers may actually be experiencing hypoglycemia.
Using a food log to discover panic attack symptoms that occur 3-4 hours after eating and disappear when something is eaten is a simple way to help narrow down what is the cause of the symptoms.
A doctor can also determine hypoglycemia through a simple blood test.
If hypoglycemia is revealed, it can be corrected by reducing consumption of simple sugars.
Eat complex carbohydrates such as heavy breads and whole grains instead of pastas and refined grains.
Eat a protein or complex carbohydrate snack between meals to keep blood sugar consistent and consume fresh fruit instead of candy.
Fresh fruits have more complex sugars than do candies.
Suffering from attacks of panic does not make for pleasant experiences, but there are things that can be done that do not necessitate medication to control the panic.
Self help is available through what is consumed and by making sure that correct lifestyle decisions are made.
Discuss with a doctor about the options available and know that you can help yourself.