A Root Cause Quick Guide for Anxiety
Part 2
Anxiety is often seen as a mental or emotional issue only, but it can actually be rooted the body’s metabolic systems—regulation of blood sugar (energy), digestion, and hormones – the Three Metabolic Controls we talk about so much at Eureka!!
If you’re struggling with any form of anxiety, it’s worth investigating the metabolic root causes that could be feeding your anxious mind. There can be physical causes and spiritual causes for the emotional disruption of anxiety.
In our final article of this series we’ll take a deeper look at the spiritual root causes and the anecdote Scripture provides…Spiritual strategies (faith) and physical strategies (food)!!
“Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression. But a good word makes it glad.” Proverbs 12:25
#1: Low Blood Sugar & Metabolic Imbalance
Do you feel jittery, irritable, or lightheaded when you haven’t eaten in a while? This could be a sign of hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar—a key contributor to anxiety. Hypoglycemia can shift to hyperglycemia then into full blown diabetes if left unchecked.
When blood sugar levels drop too low, the brain receives inadequate fuel, triggering the release of stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. This can create feelings of:
- Nervousness
- Panic
- Anger
- Mental fog
In addition, excitotoxins—compounds that overstimulate and damage brain neurons—can be produced in a hypoglycemic state, potentially worsening mood disorders. It’s also impossible to balance hormones (thyroid, estrogen, progesterone, testosterone without balancing insulin – sugar and cortisol – stress)
QUICK TIPS:
- Eat nutrient-dense, low-glycemic meals (think proteins, healthy fats, fiber-rich vegetables)– Download our FREE Nutrition Guide at Resources Page
- Combine any simple carbs – like high sugar fruits (bananas, apples, pineapple, peaches) with a healthy fat or protein like nut butter, greek yogurt, boiled egg, cottage cheese
- Avoid dried fruit or added sugar
- Don’t skip meals—aim for consistent eating times to stabilize blood sugar
- Eat within 1-2 hours of waking with a focus on protein first thing
- Exercise lowers blood sugar levels, and one of the BEST natural solutions for anxiety!! Depending on where your sugar balance exercising in a fasting state could be helpful. But if you feel worse, then your sugar is dropping too low, and you should eat a healthy protein like greek yogurt with a small serving of low glycemic carb like berries.
- Food triggers (sensitivities, allergies, intolerances) can also spike insulin – limiting those foods – even healthy ones – can help regulate the blood sugar cycle.
#2: Gut Health Dysfunction
The brain-gut connection is real! The saying, “mental health begins in the gut” is being realized more and more through researching the microbiome! Your gut microbiome (the trillions of microbes in your digestive tract) play a powerful role in regulating mood-related neurotransmitters, including:
- Serotonin (the “happy” chemical)
- GABA (calming, anti-anxiety neurotransmitter)
- Dopamine (motivation and pleasure)
When your gut is out of balance—due to parasites, bacterial or yeast overgrowth, or simply poor digestion—the production of these neurotransmitters is disrupted, contributing to mood swings, irritability, and anxiety.
Additionally, if you aren’t eating enough or breaking down proteins efficiently (which provide the amino acids needed to make neurotransmitters), your brain won’t get the building blocks it needs to stay emotionally balanced.
QUICK TIPS:
- Support digestion with digestive enzymes or bitters
- Eat adequate clean protein (grass-fed meats, wild fish, legumes if tolerated)
- Use probiotics or fermented foods to restore microbial balance
- Consider GI Map testing for gut infections (parasites, candida, dysbiosis)
#3: Thyroid Disorders
Your thyroid gland governs metabolism, energy, and even brain function—and imbalances here can directly affect your mood.
- Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) often leads to anxiety, restlessness, and racing thoughts
- Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) can cause fatigue, brain fog, low motivation, and depression
Since thyroid hormones interact with nearly every cell in the body, even subtle dysfunctions can tip the scale toward anxiety or emotional flatness. Many people are walking around with undiagnosed thyroid issues—especially women.
Keep in mind though… balancing blood sugar and your gut microbiome can often alleviate thyroid symptoms too!! The thyroid gets blamed for the dysfunction – thyroid lab numbers are out of range – but it can sometimes be the RESULT, not the ROOT of the problem. The gland itself could be functioning fine, but rather the metabolic function of sugar regulation or gut health that affects the conversion of inactive to active thyroid hormone or the utilization of thyroid hormone could be the real problem.
In either case, it can be helpful to support your thyroid function:
QUICK TIPS
- Get complete thyroid panel lab tested (not just TSH – T3, T4, RT3, Antibodies)
- Support your thyroid with nutrients like selenium, iodine, zinc and the amino acid tyrosine (if not on medication)
- Limit goitrogenic foods RAW like (while these foods do not cause thyroid dysfunction, they can suppress it once there is an issue)
• Broccoli
• Cauliflower
• Kale
• Brussels Sprouts
• Mustard Greens
• Radishes
• Spinach
• Strawberries
• Peaches
• Soy-Based Foods
• Peanuts
- Limit iodine absorption inhibitors like: fluoride, bromide and chlorine
Anxiety is not just“in your head.” It’s often a sign that something in the body needs support— blood sugar regulation, digestive health, and thyroid can be great starting points!! These first three also support the last four we will cover in the next article:
#4: Nutrient Deficiencies
#5: Chronic Systemic Infections
#6: Hormone Imbalances
#7: Neurotransmitter Imbalances: Low Serotonin / Low GABA
If you’re feeling anxious and traditional approaches haven’t worked or they are only managing the symptoms vs. mastering… the root cause may be missed. Supporting your body’s metabolic function naturally could be a missing link to living without fear!!