If you suffer from anxiety or panic attacks, certain foods may make your symptoms worse. Learn about five foods anxious people shouldn't eat. Caffeine Caffeine is a stimulant, and if you have panic attacks, you should avoid anything with caffeine in it. This includes coffee, tea, soft drinks and chocolate. If you regularly drink caffeine now, don't just stop cold turkey. The side effects of withdrawal can increase your anxiety. Instead, check out this article on how to ease the symptoms of caffeine withdrawal. As far as chocolate goes, dark chocolate with at least 75 percent cacao with no preservatives can actually decrease your anxiety. It releases feel-good endorphins into your system that can help keep you calm. Just don't overdo it. Alcohol A glass of wine may calm your nerves temporarily but it can make you anxious in the long run. Alcohol causes hyperactivity in the nervous system, which can make you feel jittery and over-anxious. It can also lead to dependency and alcoholism if you use it to self-medicate. Sugar Sugar is another food anxious people shouldn't eat. Nobody can expect you to completely give up cookies and cakes, but it's important to cut down. Sugar causes hyperactivity, which can lead to anxiety. Also, when it mixes with other starches, it turns to alcohol in your system. As you read above, alcohol contributes to panic. Food Dyes Do you read the labels on the food you eat? Food dyes such as Red #40 and Yellow #5 has been linked to behavioral problems in children and ADHD in both children and adults. Yellow #5 can also contribute to insomnia, which can increase the chance of panic attacks. Gluten Gluten intolerance affects 1 in every 100 people. Your anxiety attacks may be related to undiagnosed gluten intolerance. Other symptoms of gluten intolerance are: Chronic Diarrhea Chronic Flatulence (Gas) Abdominal Cramping Brain Fog Removing gluten from your diet for a month is a great way to test if gluten is causing your anxiety, even if you have no other symptoms. If you're struggling with panic attacks and anxiety, avoiding these foods can help ease your symptoms.