Diet changes for AF

[mass70]

Ok folks. What foods and drinks are people avoiding that has brought on AF attacks. Any advice appreciated. Thanks.

[Hidden]

I don't think I've noticed any food makes a difference, but I gave cut out any caffeine based drinks.

[10gingercats]

For me it is not the type of food I eat although it is 90% vegetarian ,but the quantity.I knocked a third of my food intake off my diet 5 years ago with the 'consent' of my GP and I feel heaps better all round.More energy,overt AF' attacks ' next to nil and less anxiety prone .,

[Finvola]

At diagnosis I stopped eating (or severely limited) items which have been identified as undesirable with heart rhythm disorders:

All artificial sweeteners, flavourings and colourings - this involved detailed checking of ingredients at the start

Alcohol (definitely a trigger for me)

Processed food

Fried and sugary foods and caffeine - very occasionally

I increased my intake of vegetables and fruits and cut back on red meat. I also make sure I eat enough food with magnesium and potassium.

I never really was able to identify anything - other then alcohol - which triggered my AF, but I thought that sensible, healthy eating couldn't do any harm.

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to Finvola]

I ditto exactly what Finvola has said. I also noticed several times that my heart raced after eating blueberries.

For me it really helps my AF if eat healthily. Have been gluten free too for a month or so and am feeling better than I have for years.

Jean

[Yachtgirl in reply to Finvola]

Your post applies to me also except caffeine is a definite trigger and also excessive chocolate, a small amount seems to be okay. Dehydration is a trigger.

[Hidden]

I think you have posted elsewhere that you had an ablation just 2 weeks ago. If so, its not unusual to have some AF episodes because it can take the heart 3 to 6 months to recover from the procedure. If I were you, I would follow Finvola's advice.....and do your best to keep off any alcohol for as long as possible. If the episodes persist, try contacting the Arrythmia Nurse where you had the procedure as they may have some suggestions for reducing or stopping episodes......best of luck, John

[Beancounter Volunteer]

I have given up diet drinks, which for a 5 can of diet caffeine free Coke a day man was easier than I expected. I now search diligently for any signs of aspertamine on anything I eat and now, about 8 weeks in, I am feeling better and probably most noticeably sleeping better.

Not sure the aspertamine brought on AF, but anything which gives me back sleep is a real bonus

Be well

Ian

[IsobelBrown54 in reply to Beancounter]

Hi,

I've posted similar to this before, but I believe that Aspartame was what triggered my Afib. I was constantly chewing sugarfree gum for 3 months before it started and used to get episodes every 3 months or so despite medication. This went on for two years, but I have had no Afib since I stopped chewing the gum, which was sweetened with Asoartame. Now of course, I will not touch any foods or drinks containing aspartame or msg. I am convinced!

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to IsobelBrown54]

Hi Isobel, I'm the same as you and blame artificial sweeteners for my AF. I too was chewing sugar free gum, but was also using sweeteners in my drinks, eating what I thought were healthy fruit yogurts and diet lemonade etc. I proved it was the sweeteners as at work I was given lunch and every time I had apple crumble so my AF would start. I asked our cook what was in it and she assured me no artificial sweeteners. Months later she came to me to apologise as it had been used in the custard.

Jean

[Hidden]

Hi there,

I am not affected by drinks in any way, hot or cold, alcoholic, caffeine or soft drinks or anything else. I am seriously affected by food, however !

I consulted a Nutritionist who prescribed Probiotics to stabilise my gut flora and recommended changing my food intake. The foods I now avoid are ; anything with Gluten, Wheat or Oats, if I followed the mantra of 'eat 5 to 7 fruit and veg a day' I'd be a bathroom cot case ! No long green beans (Runner beans), no peas, no hot/spicy foods, little or no Chinese food (MSG), no baked beans. No raspberries, no yoghurt, very little or no lettuce, no onions but shallots are OK, occasional tomato is OK, no pork with crackling, no thick gravy, and I'm now added sugar free too. I nowadays can only eat small portions. I also follow aspects of the FODMAPS diet.

Symptoms would be massive, massive bloating and pain in chest as pressure is exerted around the heart, intestinal gurgling, (very loud), diahorrea and burping - not in any particular order, all or any at random, but the bloating was the most common and most damaging. The food seems to aggravate the vagal nerve, a major nerve governing the functions of many organs BUT ESPECIALLY the heart and digestive system.

since I've calmed the vagal nerve I've had no AF - no AF now since April 2015.

John

[Finvola in reply to Hidden]

Very interesting about the probioticc, John. I have been taking Lamberts acidophilus for three months for minor IBS-like symptoms and as well as helping the gut, I think my ectopics and wobbles have been less active in that time . . . Probably will be proven wrong the minute I finish typing this.🙂

[Hidden in reply to Finvola]

Mine started like that, very gradually at first and with the passing of months, then years the improvement became more a part of my life. To the point that nowadays when my gut, and my chest feels 'light' I know I'm home safe. When my gut and chest feel 'heavy' I know I'm in trouble!

Good luck Finvola.

John

[Susiebelle in reply to Hidden]

So what do you eat please ?

Thanks

Susie

[Hidden]

I avoid all caffeine. More than 1 glass of wine I think can be a trigger, although I can go into an episode when I have not been drinking anything at all, so I'm not completely sure of the connection. I know that there are certain chemicals that are definitely a trigger -- air fresheners, whether the plugin kind or the spray kind will definitely trigger an episode for me. Scented candles are a problem. I highly recommend that folks dealing with afib pay attention to what scents they are exposed to, because I wonder if some of this epidemic of afib is related to the chemicals to which we are all exposed. Good luck. My cardiologist recommended that I quit trying to figure out what was triggering me, because I probably wouldn't figure it out. They just don't know what triggers most of these episodes. But for me, exposure to strong chemicals has brought it on enough times that I'm sure there is a connection.

[Hidden]

Definitely cold fizzy drinks, alcohol and caffeine for me. Also reduced sugar, gluten and processed foods help me feel better. No heavy meals particularly in the evening.

[expences]

No caffeine in any form, I eat almonds and bananas (in moderation!) for Potassium and magnesium. Gluten free, no MSG.

Dont drink much alcohol either and trying to give up sugar.

Sounds a bit grim doesn't it?? :((

[Barb1]

For me...Nothing. ..It just happens.

[NiceNana]

Chinese takeaways containing MSG and strong coffee set me off.

[Pikaia]

I'm just getting used to AF but so far all I've done is cut back on caffeine (only 2-3 cups a day) and alcohol (only with food and even then only a glass or two). I'm quite lucky in that I already have a relatively healthy diet so I'm hoping that I don't have to give up too much.

[Pikaia in reply to Pikaia]

Quick update, I had two full blooded coffees today and about an hour after the last one I started to feel unusually tired yet accelerated in some way. A quick look at the heart rate on my Fitbit (with the usual disclaimer about accuracy etc.) showed that it was steadily climbing, even though I was just sat down. I checked my pulse to find it was steady yet one beat was full strength, the next A few sharp coughs and a glass of water seemed to calmed things down. Just goes to show how variable AF is. Some days it's fine, other days it's more capricious. Decaff coffee/tea tomorrow

[PhyllisK]

If it's edible I eat it but, I do react to alcohol so sadly have to abstain.

Best wishes on your A.F. journey

[Tut7iFru7i]

hi if you are overweight its sensible to slim down.the cardiologist that did my ablation told me-" lose some weight.! nine times out of ten A/F does not come back if you slim down to a normal weight.so i i am trying the low blood sugar diet and have lost 2 stone in 2 months with this diet you dont feel deprived or hungry between meals .makes sense not to overload your heart carring around loads of weight xxxx

[IsobelBrown54 in reply to Tut7iFru7i]

I couldn't agree more. I have lost 2 stone, but have another 4 to go. As well as being a vegetarian I avoid processed food, caffeine, msg and sweeteners, but believe losing weight and increasing exercise are also important to become as healthy as possible and stack the odds in my favour!

[Tut7iFru7i in reply to IsobelBrown54]

wonderful!!! go girl.like me i bet you look in the mirror and think wow! i look thinner here and thinner there.i do and it spurs me on dont give up you will like me get there keep in touch xxxxx

[Hidden]

For me,,,,had issues once after a broiled crab cake and another time after a McDonalds cheeseburger,,,left me thinking heavy greasy or fatty foods might do it!! I also avoid all caffeine,chocolate and alcohol ,,not worth taking a chance on known triggers!!

[mass70]

Thanks everyone for the replies. I already ate pretty healthy so not sure what has triggered my AF. On another note i was given the impression that an ablation was a cure for AF. Quite clearly this is not the case. 4 weeks after mine and AF is back with a vengence. Left me really wondering if i made the right choice as before everything was stable. Now i'm a wreck all over again. How do i deal with this?

[Teresakelley]

Left out alcohol caffeine and heavy fried food . No chips cakes biscuits roast potatoes and trying to be sugar free and eating only small amounts to stop heart racing . It may be the drugs Digoxin and Verapamil to control heart rate but my heart is still 82~120 so willing to try anything

[castanes]

Coffee is a no-no for me. Strangely, I can drink 2-3 cups of strong tea a day without any apparent effect. I guess that that would equal about 1.5 cups of coffee in caffeine content, and yet the tea does not give me palpitations. Coffee is guaranteed to trigger palpitations.

[Ren912]

Even a mouthful of wine sets my heart off. Dehydration is also a trigger.