I have a kin interest in learning from anecdotal experiences.

[Peacefulneedshelp]

Hi everyone, I read with interest many of the posts about AF that are similar to my issues and that is seems food is a trigger but mort interestingly I think chemicals in the food. I stopped all alcohol that didn’t seem to help. I eat organic and non GMO exclusively but when I eat at certain restaurants I seem to have an issue. Since most restaurants aren’t organic I have to assume there could possibly be chemicals in the food. Like glyophates or MSG which is a trigger. I used to get horrible migraines from gluten that has been out of my diet for about 5 years. It’s not that at this point. I am interested in reading people discoveries and what they have done to help themselves because I have always been diagnosed wrong from a DR. They had told me I had a prolapsed heart valve years later when retested they said opps you dont. So you have prolapsed heart valve syndrome and gave me info on the nervous system. i have read with interest people talking about the Vegas nerve. I am so glad to have found this group.

[secondtry]

I would say reducing gluten & sugar substantially should be part of any AF diet. Eating out stick to simple things that can't be adulterated eg fish. I didn't rely on just medics and consulted a couple of Alternative Practitioners. Lastly, the Vagus Nerve very relevant to many of us, I would read here and elsewhere all you can. Best wishes.

[CDreamer]

I found that you cannot rely on information given on menus in restaurants but I can tolerate very small amounts of occasional contamination.

I gave up gluten and sugar and red meat, coffee and alcohol and avoided all processed carbs including bought bread for about 14 months and started to see a huge improvement in general well being.

Didn’t have any affect on AF though. The ANS is very complex and not well understood but there is a name for Heart/Digestion link. I follow Prof Tim Spectre as he is the ONLY person doing research into personalised nutrition. Forget about diets - they may work for some but most have been proven to be problematic and not helped people universally.

Eating habits ie: how and when you eat are as important as what you eat.

Intermittent fasting is essential so eating within an 8-10 hour window and fasting for the remaining 14-16 hours gives your digestive system a rest and that more than anything will be helpful.

Never eat anything for 3 hours prior to bedtime.

Eat the rainbow - variety is important but stick to mainly plant based foods and avoid all processed. Organic is best but all organic foods will still have pesticide traces so some chemical are unavoidable, unfortunately. I think the glyphosphates are a huge pollutant and are poison for us but how do avoid breathing because you don’t know how and where they are?

The way to go for me was build resistance by eating as well as I can, learn about nutrition and ensure I have a healthy intake of all essential macro and micro nutrients. Practice Mindfulness in eating but also in life. And most of all stop worrying too much about it all as stress is the WORST antagonist for ANS and heart so develop techniques and daily practice of de-stressing and relaxation.

Best wishes

PS - did you see my recent post regarding internal tremors?

[Peacefulneedshelp in reply to CDreamer]

I totally agree and I do all that, yet due to circumstances things get out of control including cooking so if we order out becomes a problem. i have decided once that happens I will make myself an omelette instead if others in the family want something different they are welcome to decide for themselves.

[CDreamer]

In case you missed this one:- drsanjayguptacardiologist.c...

[Tryfan]

Well a warm welcome. Here you will find a wealth and depth of knowledge. Whilst most are, and do say they are not medically trained the breadth of experience and research is excellent.As for food and drink. Smaller portion control, rainbow colored plate, little or no meat, good nights sleep, oily fish, fresh air and moderate exercise- all seem to help. Oh, and the biggest in my lexicon try to avoid stress.

Best wishes.

[mjames1]

Some here, including myself, have had some success following the FODMAP diet. They have a very nice app from Monash University.

But diet is such a fickle and individual thing. A funny story. Before I was on FODMAP, I finally succumbed to the Popyeyes Chicken Sandwich craze in the States. Not sure if you have Popeyes in the UK, but it's basically a fast food joint and like all fast food places features "special sauces" which are no doubt laden with MSG.

So one day I said, ok, no harm in trying their chicken sandwich just once. And so I did. Absolutely amazing how delicious foods can taste enhanced by modern science lol

Funny thing happened, my ectopics calmed down. Hmm. So for the next couple of weeks I became a Popeye regular. Then even a funnier thing happened. My 2-3 aflutter episodes per week stopped. Hmm.

Well, this went on for a few more weeks until I finally did get aflutter again, not to mention that my blood pressure went through the roof from all that sodium! So no more Popeyes.

However, I could not ignore what happened and went out and bought some MSG, which actually has far less sodium than table salt. Could this much maligned flavor enhance somehow be the holy grail of afib cures? So I sprinkled away for a week or two but no effect on my aflutter. So no more MSG.

Not sure what this all means other than both diet and afib can be fickle, but do check out FODMAP.

Jim

[Peacefulneedshelp in reply to mjames1]

What does FODMAP help with? I looked it but wasn’t sure

[mjames1 in reply to Peacefulneedshelp]

It was a diet designed originally for IBS and now embraced by a lot of GI doctors. I don't have IBS but I read many with afib food triggers benefited from foods low in FODMAP. To over simplify it cuts down on the gas pressure we sometimes get after a meal. That pressure can trigger afib in some of us.

Jim

[Peacefulneedshelp in reply to mjames1]

Thank you, I will relook at it. A lot of what all of you are saying makes sense to me i do have hiatal hernia which would make sense.

[ozziebob]

I just wanted to say my anecdotal experience re AF is that I think it very important to get your bloods tested, especially Vitamin D. On April it was discovered that my Vitamin D level was a dangerously low 22 nmol/L, or 8.8 ng/mL. I have now raised it by supplementation to a recent 107 nmol/L, or 42.8 ng/mL.

And I now feel that my heart is more settled, more solid in it's rhythm, if you can make anything of that language.

If you look at my Vitamin D Posts you will find links to important recent research about this vitamin.

Well, for what it's worth, that's my story.

Hope it helps.

[Peacefulneedshelp in reply to ozziebob]

I agree with you that vitamin D levels are extremely important to keep high. A lot of doctors are still under the impression that vitamin D is toxic and we are finding out with further testing that it is not in their high levels are important.

[ozziebob in reply to Peacefulneedshelp]

I knew you would be up to date re Vitamin D after reading your Bio.Here's the article I wanted you to read anyway ...medscape.com/viewarticle/98...

From one good firm body fan to another (private joke!) !!!!!

[ozziebob in reply to Peacefulneedshelp]

Sorry, I copy & pasted the link address and it got corrupted. Here's the correct link ...

medscape.com/viewarticle/98...