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Muesli and heart rate

pusillanimous profile image
13 Replies

This is probably rather a silly question, but so many people experience similar things and it is so comforting to be able to ask. I went through a higher 'plant' diet phase

a few months ago, having mostly mixed fruit and oats for breakfast. I don't know if I have become fructose intolerant, or I was consuming too much fibre, but I started to suffer terrible flatulence , stomach cramps and strange improperly formed stool (sorry for being so graphic). I changed to just toast or plain oats for breakfast and my troubles went away. Latterly I have changed to Muesli and plain yoghurt, or a nutritious breakfast cereal we have in South Africa called Pro- Nutro, with a spoonful of plain yoghurt,. I have not problems with the Pro-Nutro break fast but twice this week after Muesli my heart has started to race - I do not go into Afib, but for about 10 mins my heart is going at between 100 and 103 bpm. Has anyone else had this experience with Muesli containing nuts, raisins, oats and some dried apple?

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pusillanimous profile image
pusillanimous
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13 Replies
Sewnknit profile image
Sewnknit

The bowel issues may be from the laxative effect of the sorbitol in the dried fruit.I find sugar can trigger AF in me. Have a look at the ingredient list and nutrition info on the packet - you may be shocked at the sugar level.

pusillanimous profile image
pusillanimous in reply to Sewnknit

Thanks Sewknit, but the digestive issue occurred when I was eating fresh fruit, with the Muesli there is no digestive problem, just the sudden short heart racing with no AF.

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50

I make my own organic muesli and have no problems:

1 Dessert spoonful of buckwheat flakes

1 Date - chopped

1 Dessert spoonful of Sultanas

A good pinch of either cinnamon or ginger

Half a teaspoon of ground flax

Level dessert spoonful of pumpkin seeds

Level dessert spoonful of sunflower seeds

Sometimes I add some ground chia seeds, or sesame seeds

I pour lots of milk over it and cook for 2 minutes in the microwave. Take it out and stir, add more milk if needed then pop back for another minute or two.

When you see this after cooking you will realise how much liquid it absorbs and how it swells up. I can't imagine what any muesli type meal would do to your stomach without enough fluid. I can't see that a yoghurt would be enough.

I found my stomach didn't like oats.

Jean

Jalia profile image
Jalia in reply to jeanjeannie50

Sounds lovely Jean! I must try this. I have Tesco Nuts and seed muesli with no added sugar which us delicious but does have some oatcakes so no good for you.

pusillanimous profile image
pusillanimous in reply to jeanjeannie50

Sounds lovely Jean, perhaps I should try it with liquid - it's just that I love it crunchy and with a big dob of yoghurt, my stomach does not object, it only objects to fresh fruit, but I don't think my heart is over keen on dry Muesli !

Desanthony profile image
Desanthony in reply to pusillanimous

That's how my wife eats her porridge or oats with yogurt as she doesn't like milk. I just have water.

splashrollandplod profile image
splashrollandplod in reply to Desanthony

Does the yoghurt cook ok?

Desanthony profile image
Desanthony in reply to splashrollandplod

No she puts the yogurt on after. I should have been more specific it is cooked with water only. I used to cook in milk but as she didn’t like milk stopped and used water only. My wife has lots of yogurt - about half a big tun - I exaggerate, on hers and I have about a spoonful.

splashrollandplod profile image
splashrollandplod in reply to Desanthony

Thanks i might try with Kefir although I quite my porridge hot and I guess that’s gonna cool it. Sorry this isn’t supposed to be masterchaf!

Desanthony profile image
Desanthony in reply to splashrollandplod

Ha ha yes.

Those hard to digest things like nuts and dried fruit, together with oats certainly are likely to cause a fast heart beat. Digesting anything requires a bigger blood flow to the digestive organs and generally speaking it is this which causes the increased heart rate.

pusillanimous profile image
pusillanimous in reply to

Thanks Callendersgal, I'll have to give up my love of crunchy things and eat softer easier to digest foods, sadly !!!!

in reply to pusillanimous

Aww I wouldn’t give them up altogether unless you really can’t bear the sensation of a fast heart beat! As I’ve got older more and more foods do this to me and what I do is to cut down the portion quite a lot so that I still get to enjoy the flavour and the crunch and then ‘too off’ with something a bit easier on the digestion! 👍😊

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