Diet & AF

[Truckerclark]

Hi ,I’ve got a question on a specific diet ,,, I’ve got AF ,,,angina , and Asthma, been told I need to lose weight as possibly needing a pacemaker fitted , has anyone done the exante diet and been ok with their health issues while doing it , ie , not giving more AF issues etc ,

[BobD Volunteer]

No and most medics will tell you that diets don't work. Life style does. Smaller meals, less meat. more plant based foods and less processed food. Plenty of water no alcohol etc all well documented.

[Truckerclark in reply to BobD]

Yes always been my thoughts too , but I’m doing a healthy eating plan just now because I can’t take lots of water ,I’m on diuretic tablets ,,, it does not seem to work as well ,,, thought I’d try exante with a main meal at night ,

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Truckerclark]

We always have main in the evening but seldom after 6 pm. It all needs to be digested before you go to bed or it goes straight to your midrift.

[Truckerclark in reply to BobD]

👍

[Tapanac in reply to Truckerclark]

Oh unless you have been told differently, I also am on diuretics and to save the kidneys overworking and dehydrated with making water that isn’t there because of the tablets you should drink plenty of water. I was told slightly warm water and regularly. Good luck with the weight watching.

[diminished7th]

If you like cooking then try The Doctor's Kitchen thedoctorskitchen.com/shop/... He has lots of recipes on the website and links to his other channels like You Tube etc. I read his first book and it was full of useful tips on healthy eating. He was an AFib sufferer and was diagnosed whilst he was working an A&E shift. His emphasis is now on asking his patients what they eat as he says his medical training covered very little on nutrition.

[Truckerclark in reply to diminished7th]

Thanks I’ll have a look

[Ianc2]

There are two approaches:

Up your exercise so that you burn fuel from your fat stores. Doesn't have to be drastic exercise but regular, gentle, daily movement will have an effect on your weight. Imagine your excess weight in terms of bags of sugar. Get a back pack, put them in and that's the amount of excess weight you are carting around. Regular walking along a flat path will get you going.

With regard to your food intake, as BobD said, change your eating patterns. Breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dine like a pauper. Try to get rid of bread, biscuits, and cakes. Cut down on your carbs for a while - lose the sugar . If you need to lose weight as a matter of urgency have a chat with your doctor regarding an 800 calories a day diet, usually aimed at diabetics,

the BHF recommend the Mediterranean diet and have a lot of recipes freely available. If you go on their website there are lots of meal recipes freely available

[Truckerclark in reply to Ianc2]

Thanks lots to think about I’ll take look see

[Auriculaire in reply to Ianc2]

Those countries that ate a Mediterranean diet did not eat in this pattern. Breakfast in Italy, Spain, France etc was always light and often sugary. The Spanish would eat very late at night often not till 21 -30 or 22 -00. As long as the traditional diet prevailed obesity rates were low. There is still scientific debate over whether times of eating has much effect on metabolism. It is the consumption of highly processed "food" that leads to ill health and obesity.

[Ianc2 in reply to Auriculaire]

I agree with your comments regarding processed food completely. The Spanish do eat very late during the furnace season and they sleep on a split shift season with a siesta at the hottest part of the day and another sleep starting about 2-3am. They serve the brits with all carb heavy chips, pizzas, etc, but don't eat it themselves but with the spread of fast food outlets I fear that things may be changing..

[Auriculaire in reply to Ianc2]

As do we in summer! We generally have a nap in the afternoon after a late light lunch and eat our dinner about 20-45. But rarely go to sleep before 1-30 . In summer it is far too hot to think about cooking and eating any earlier and for green reasons I try to limit the use of the air con machine in the kitchen to the hottest days. This pattern has spilt over into the whole year lately.

[Alessa69]

Welcome to the club ! Also have Asthma & AF & eternally battling the heft 😕

Lots of great advice already given here . Another thing to consider is blood sugar levels . I use strategies from Blood sugar diet principles( It’s Mediterranean diet , with some tweaks re carbohydrate & eating times ) Good info in book by Dr Rangan Chatterrgee, have not got links to hand , but one is called The Stress Solution . He’s on Facebook & did a great TV series Dr in the House. It all helps , swimming helps me , but have always loved swimming . Good luck with all x

[Truckerclark in reply to Alessa69]

Thanks

[skipabeat]

Yes , you must be water aware if you have issues with heart failure, hence the water pills and water limitations.

[skipabeat]

also sodium intake...

[Truckerclark in reply to skipabeat]

Thanks doing that now , I’ve spoke to consultant he’s put me right on what I can do now ,