Some of you may remember my writing late last year about my sister (who has slight learning difficulties) and how she had recently been diagnosed with AF.
Well, it's been a few weeks now that she's felt better than she ever has. What's been the transformation for her feeling so well? She's cut out caffeine and artificial sweeteners. Stopping caffeine was suggested by her GP to help with her cold feet owing to diabetes. The stopping of sweeteners in her coffee has been the main thing to help. That was suggested by me and when she moaned and said she couldn't drink hot drinks without them I got cross with her. She asked me why I thought stopping them would help reduce her AF and I answered because you're my sister and I know sweeteners were a trigger for me. Because I'd got cross she stopped using them and is now telling me how wonderful she feels and that she has no problem going up and down the stairs in her house. She feels better than she ever has!
So please, if you are still bothered by high rate AF just give cutting out artificial sweeteners a try. Look at the label on every item of food or drink that you consume. It worked for me and now has for my sister.
Jean
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nothing wrong with the same old thing if it’s good for you I am very boring when it comes to food shopping, but I know what I like, and it agrees with me. Good one Bob devil spawn absolutely I even find this so-called natural like Stevia does not agree with me and I hate the aftertaste of all of them. For the little bit that I use for anything such as coffee or mushroom coffee in my case, I would rather use the real thing.
I totally agree. Decades ago, when artificial sweeteners first came out, my prone-to-weight-gain grandmother, an enthusiastic baker, tried cooking with them. I think I only sampled the first offering; the aftertaste was overpowering. I have hated artificial sweeteners ever since. So glad I never got the habit, not even sugar-free soft drinks.
This is such a good reminder Jean. Only today l bought a bottle of orange squash with no added sugar and 50 per cent more juice. I completely forgot to read the ingredients and sure enough sweeteners were added.
There are so many more foods and drinks being added with artificial sweeteners and preservatives. No added sugar is a red flag. It’s so difficult now to buy anything natural. We need to go backwards and make our own, if we need to be sure.
It’s good to hear your sister is feeling better because of you being assertive. There is definitely a connection in what we consume, as l have found out the hard way! I often wonder if artificial sweeteners are the cause of my AF. I used to use them all the time thinking it was much better for me than sugar.
Hi Chris, yes artificial sweeteners can be hidden in so many things. I went to buy some lemon juice the other day, you know the stuff we put on pancakes. I had a chesty cough and thought it would help if I made a drink with water, honey and lemon. I was amazed to see that it contained artificial sweeteners. Goodness knows what made me read the contents list for that!
good thing to point out how they sneak in the artificial and sugar means just that doesn’t tell you anything about other sweeteners unless it has a big fat zero the list I want to have limited
the funny thing is, that’s how I my pets especially my dog, making sure they don’t put fillers and all kinds of garbage in it and yet I wasn’t doing it for myself.
Someone abandoned three puppies last fall and my cousin is in charge of buying and feeding for them. Recently, he mentioned to me how they will not eat anything with chicken in it.
I decided to check the well-known brand that he has been buying it also has bacon and cheese besides beef. Well that’s what it says however, all you have to do is turn it over and read. The first ingredient is chicken. Beef is about number 10 on the list. Why do places get away with doing this? Yes I pay more for my dog, but he just turned 13 and he can run around like a puppy, even though he had become partially paralyzed. He worked on himself when we were outside. He would try to get always on a leash very long, but I’m on the other end. He appears to practice getting using his back legs. One he the bed and could not get up. he was dragging his legs behind him, hurting his poor little feet and legs. Now he can stand up straight again. No surgery or anything because of his age and honestly except for him getting tired like we all do he is doing great and his little back legs stand straight. I say a little because they are shorter. He is 69 pounds so just like my heart his legs are a little mixed up.
please remember check everything you put into your body whether it’s a supplement or whatever because it seems to me they are not very honest out there with us that even goes for organic things. I have seen things with organic tomatoes, etc., in a product however there are other things mixed with them that are not organic so why bother? Sadly, it seems like everything else it’s about the money they can rake in.
Thanks for your lovely reply DawnTX. I know what you mean with dog food. I have a Dachshund and she is allergic to chicken and lots of other food. What on earth is going on? They shouldn’t get away with all this. The food and drinks industry is as bad as big Pharma.
Food allergies in domestic pets often seem to be linked to chicken -- I am sure I read that it's the first thing to eliminate when trying to work out why the animal is having a reaction. Given the absolute state of factory farming, it's no wonder.
Making your own is not going backwards. It is upholding culinary traditions! Having said that it is possible to cut the amount of sugar in homemade cakes and even jam given in the recipes and get a good result.
That's really interesting to hear Jean. I know that you found them a trigger but now that your sister has felt so much better without them has set me wondering! I have always put a generous spoonful ...or two...on my high fibre breakfast cereal 🙄 but from tomorrow I shall abstain! I never add it to drinks or anything else. Of course it's found in so many foods. We stick to natural full fat yogurts.
I will try Jean, i know you have mentioned before, but to be honest i was so reluctant , having given up sugar, in my coffee was one thing, but thought stevia would be ok, oh, how am i going to do this, i will be like a bear for a while i guess.
Hi Jean,I'm much like you and have cut out anything with caffeine and artificial sweeteners. I don't buy any processed food apart from bread and I'm very careful to read labels and never buy any with palm oil.
It can be a bit boring but that doesn't bother me where my welfare is concerned. We have to take care of ourselves.
You might like to consider making your own bread. I have a Panasonic bread maker and it is so easy. If you read the label on shop bought bread it has so many ingredients! All we do is put the ingredients into the breadmaker and set the timer to finish in the morning!
I have thought about buying a bread maker but I thought there would be more to it than you say, but that sounds simple enough. I make everything else from scratch and sometimes feel like I spend most of my time in the kitchen so I didn't want to add to it. But thanks for the info, I'll look into it now.
I had a bread maker years ago, when first used we said we'd never eat anymore shop bread. Used it about 10 times then put it away for years. Gave it so someone recently and when they turned it on I think it went bang!
Don’t bother with another bread maker, just make your own 2 1/4 hrs start to finish, but only about 30mins actually doing anything. I get 26kg bags of organic flour from a local mill, and do 1/2 and 1/2 whole meal and white. Any left over gets made into breadcrumbs and frozen. Never goes mouldy just like a brick.
I often have one white bread roll lunch time, usually with egg and cress or edam cheese and tomato. If it's not that I have olive bread with soup. Bread is the only processed food I eat too. Is your AF better for cutting out caffeine and artificial sweeteners?
I've definitely noticed a difference. I also try to have a walk every day, I've no idea how far but my regular walk takes 45 minutes, I think that helps. And I garden and grow veggies but of course that's not through the winter.
I usually get Tesco's rye sour dough bread, not many ingredients but tasty. But I don't have it every day.
My cardiologist said diet and exercise are important so I do what I can, the rest is down to him.
so glad to hear that she is feeling better. Also about the cold feet or any hot and cold feelings make sure she gets her thyroid checked. I thought I was going through hot flashes again it turns out I have thyroid issues just beginning to work on it with the doctor, but my feet were so cold. It was awful just to put one on top of the other if I crossed my ankles, it was like ice.
I do not like artificial sweeteners. If you have it around the house, please be careful if you have pets. It is toxic and deadly for them. That makes me wonder how good can it be for us?
I need something in my coffee although I am drinking mushroom coffee now. I actually like creamer especially flavored that is my treat for me and it doesn’t seem to bother me.
it sounds like you can handle her well sometimes sadly it is like speaking to a child but whatever works. We all have different triggers. It sounds like you did a good thing and may have found one of hers.
I had no idea as far as thyroid all the things that it affects. I recently was reading up on it with the Mayo Clinic who is one of the best of the best. Wow I could almost check off the whole list. This is relatively new bothering me FYI. I became ill before the holidays. I don’t know if that’s what started things. I am also going to meet my new PE on Wednesday the 15th and I can’t wait. Sadly, my incredible doctor I had has moved away. Sad for not for him. He’s got a wonderful new position and I’m happy for him because now he can save other people
congratulations on doing a good job. I do remember when you wrote about your sister.
Definitely get the thyroid checked out ans in good order. Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism are linked with AF. If you are hypothyroid btw you might benefit from a high protein diet - not necessarily KETO - but good quality protein every day. It's really helped me. Well, that and the sunlight!
Yeah, it might well be the artificial sweetners. I gave up caffeine for a few years, but have started using it again, without any problems. I use sugar-free maple syrup as a sweetener in drinks, and have no problems with that. The big thing that's seemed to help, is to stop counting my pulse all the time. If I sense AF occurring, I relax. Anxiety seems to be something not good. Try to relax. Have a nap. Forget about it, and especially with paroxysmal AF, by the time I wake up, the episode has passed. I find that the preservatives in frozen pizza may cause AF in me. It seems to vary from person to person, but I can see it running in family lines, like you and your sister. Thanks for sharing your experiences.
I echo all you advise Pedro. Yes I found that by ignoring what my heart was doing really helped me but it must have taken 15 years before I had the confidence to do that. My fierce AF attacks often put me into a hospital ward.
Pedroboy, Just a thought, but check the label of the "sugar-free" maple syrup--what are they using to sweeten it further? If it's sucralose or one of the artificial sweeteners, you might want to go to regular maple syrup... I use both Canadian and American maple syrup and have never had a bad reaction to those. Have a peaceful day!
I used to take 1/4 tsp. of sugar in morning tea only (large mug), but I weaned myself off it about 15 years ago after working with someone who always dumped in about 3tsp whenever it was his turn to make the tea. If he was trying to cure me of the habit, it worked.
Sounds like you have a wise GP, though I think everyone is coming round to the idea of how AF can be triggered by artificial sweeteners. I read a report on that fact a few weeks ago.
I read a report few weeks ago when l was just browsing. Artificial sweeteners are listed “officially” now as a trigger for AF. along with infection and stress as being the three main ones.
I have no triggers like that on my front. No alcohol, little added sugars except the off piece of cake, low fat diet. Dad was 1 Diabetic so I steer away from sweetness.
He was low level diabetic too.
I take CCB Diltiazem 120 CD for rapid, persistent AF.
Walking about energy is sapped suddenly and I have to sit down. A nuisance.
I keep my B12 at 500-700.
I take no supplements amd a banana daily gives me potassium and magnesium.
The vet said that I should give my 11 year JAZ mini schnauzer Q10 ??? I said she has the tip of my banana daily and she is fed Black Hawk. She has a level 1 heart murmur discvered by one vet but has no side effects and sleeps from about midday daily.
Sometimes we just need to accept our short comings.
So glad that your dear sister tried out your recommendations.
it’s a good idea to check ordinary products as well. When the government brought in the sugar tax some companies added artificial sweeteners to food not advertised as sugar free to avoid paying the tax.
thank you for sharing Jean and good to hear she is coping better. There are so many additives in most things... best to have things as fresh and natural as possible if budget permits
Well done your sister, I've stopped sweatners in my coffee and just starting to go thru everything I eat.
I've been doing a bit of digging and I also noticed in all the supermarkets the citrus fruits, lemons, limes oranges are all treated with the below chemicals.
It worries me as the skin on these fruits is a natural barrier, yet still these supermarkets continue to add chemicals into even the supposed one of your five a day.
So trying to protect my heart I've stopped buying these fruits out the supermarkets and buy Organic.
These chemicals can't be good for you or your heart.
So along with the sweetener I'm buying organic.
They have a thing called bleed thru and it actually goes into the fruit itself.
When I asked I got told it's withing the governments guidelines???
So if you have three oranges in a day is that within these guidelines of chemicals that's ok to enter your body?
Just look up, what these chemicals do to your body?
It's frightening!
It's a Bill Gates wax product by the way.
So the fruit looks good for longer, nothing healthy about this?
So as lots of people in here are saying, "read the labels"
Oranges 🍊 label with the chemicals added to the skin.
M and S oranges!
That's awful I didn't know chemicals were used on citrus fruit. Hmm bought oranges yesterday must take a look. Yes? My oranges from a well known supermarket are treated with exactly the same chemicals. It also says to wash the fruit before eating and keep refrigerated! Who would think of putting oranges in the fridge, or come to that washing them before peeling but I will from now on. Will look for organic ones - what a world of chemical pollutants we live in!
Thanks for making me aware - I'm astounded at this news.
In some of the labels for Satsumas and other fruit it says the skins are toxic and should not be eaten.
So if you don't know and let's say make a nice healthy ( so you think 🤔) fresh Juice, let's hope people don't throw the skin and fruit into the blenders and then strain the whole thing, your sure to have lots of lovely ingredients you didn't know you had!
Well done your sister, that's really interesting to know about all the sweeteners.
I knew a bit about them but not a whole lot, however if it's causing problems with people's hearts you think they'd ban them!
It's going to take me 4 hours now to do the shopping now, not the usual 2🤣
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