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, LCMHCNew 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.

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!

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.