Best diet for Afib

[Asdfvv]

About 6 months ago I began to experience chest pain and palpitations. The anxiety caused by this eventually caused me to experience Afib.

Needless to say, this caused great fear in me, and made me worry that I might have some type of heart disease or clogged arteries. So I changed my diet to an almost pure vegan diet. It seemed to help a little with the chest pain.

But now I am beginning to feel like my health is taking a dowturn. I feel anemic. I have very little strength or energy. I have lost a lot of weight too. I have begun taking supplements, but it doesn't help much.

I am thinking of switching to a keto diet. Hoping that the chest pain that I originally felt was caused by the arrythmia and not my meat based diet I was on.

I am a 37 year old male, in good shape, who used to follow a strict diet and workout twice a weak. This vegan diet has not allowed me to return to regular activity levels.

[BobD Volunteer]

I doubt the anxiety caused the AF. Rather the other way round. You need treatment for your AF which should help in other respects. AF means that your heart is not working to full capacity so you will suffer fatigue. I think vegan may be a step too far in one move so try a more balanced diet as well.

[Hidden]

Hi,

My thoughts are that any change in diet would need to be considered by a healthcare professional, be that a GP, or Nutritionist or some other professional who has quite some training behind them.

[Asdfvv]

I wish I could talk to a doctor that was actually competent. My primary physician doesn't seem to care or know About nutrition or prevention. Same with the doctors I have seen at the hospital. They run tests on me and tell me I am fine. Seems I have to research myself about nutrition. Even if my primary physician agreed to let me see a nutritionist, it would probably take a couple months for them to get me an appointment. Unless I want to pay out of my own pocket.

[Asdfvv]

Is it normal for people with palpitations or afib to feel weak all the time. Every time my Afib returns, it seems to take me a couple of months just to feel normal and healthy enough to walk or do light exercise.

[Chris147]

The British Heart Foundation actually have nurses that you can talk too. Ring the main number in London or Google the website where they actually have a number to speak to nurses. Hope this helps

[Hidden]

I made some diet changes nothing major just mainly plenty of fruit and veg (I have 8 or so a day) oily fish, a magnesium supplement. No processed stuff. Still have the odd beer and a bit of chocolate. Cutting out red meat seems to have helped. Diet wise I would just stick to organic and non processed stuff makes a difference I think and has helped reduce episodes !

[Jpan6]

My diet has been predominantly vegetarian for many years. If you are moving from a meat based diet, esp to a vegan diet, you may need to check your B12. I requested a series of blood tests done v recently and was told my Vit D levels were so low they were off the scale, so the Dr has had to prescribe a high dose supplement. I was feeling generally unwell and v weak, with tiredness and fatigue and other symptoms and I was used to doing exercise, which was affected by this, so maybe if you ask for a blood test this might reveal useful information.

[Rhspw]

I did some research and decided to follow an anti inflammatory diet which means limiting gluten, sugar and some dairy. Since I have taken those out of my diet and limited processed foods (I do have the occasional beer and dark chocolate along with a few bites of a dessert on a special occasion), I have not had an afib episode in 11 months! I have felt better than ever following this diet and I do eat organic. I’m not a huge meat eater but will eat it on average 5-6 times a week which amounts to about 1/day although there are some days where I have no meat in my meals. I guess my eating plan would look most like paleo although I do enjoy chips as my one processed food (gluten free of course). Maybe research anti inflammatory eating. I wish you the best! It stinks to not feel good! Btw, I am 48 and just had afib every so often but it was starting to happen every week until I changed my eating.

[Hidden]

Hi, Sorry late posting.

Yes, I was put on a moderate keto diet by my doctor, been on it now for about 6 months (reason being I was diagnosed as pre-diabetic). The effect has been dramatic. I've lost fat, waist down from 38" to 32". I feel fitter and stronger and my brain is noticably more active, which wasn't hard to achieve 😃

But I think how it works depends on you individually. I've always put on weight with carbs so it was almost bound to work for me. One of the best things is that I love the food on the diet, so I'm unlikely to give it up and revert to how I was. Also, I don't feel hungry any more which is what they say usually happens.

I say mine's a moderate keto diet simply because I allow myself some fruit, but other than that, I stick strictly to typical keto foods.

[Hidden]

Should have said "has it helped with my AF", answer is I don't know but it can't be bad having lost useless fat I guess.