How To Live With Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation (abbreviation AFib) represents a health issue defined as abnormal heart rhythm or arrhythmia.

Although an affection for only 0,5% of the total global population, AFib is still found in somewhere between 2.7–6.1 million people in the United States alone, making it a matter of concern for everyone.

heart rate
Checking your heart rate manually.

Atrial fibrillation can affect the entire blood flow of the body. In terms of recurrence, some patients only suffer from occasional episodes of AFib, while others have to live with this affection long term.

AFib patients

Breaking it down in numbers, AFib is mainly influenced by the age of the patient and is highly present in people older than 65 years. There is a higher chance for men or Caucasians of both sexes to develop atrial fibrillation.

Also, if patients have previously suffered or still suffer from high blood pressure, heart failures, pericarditis, obesity, diabetes, lung diseases or kidney associated diseases, there is a higher risk for them to develop atrial fibrillation as well.

Diet plays a crucial role in the development of most of the previously mentioned affections, thus it is only normal to pay more attention to it from now on if you want to have a harmonious body and stay away from health issues.

Here are some useful diet tips to start applying now.

Cut down the salt

Salt is the main cause for plenty of health affections, including high blood pressure, cholesterol levels and atrial fibrillation. Measure your daily intake of salt to not exceed 2,400 milligrams per day.

You can achieve this by reading food labels and bearing in mind that any type of product you buy from the store already contains salt, apart from the one you already use to season your dishes. Processed meats and instant soups tend to have even more salt than other products, so you should avoid them.

Feast on fish

Fish meat is not only extremely easy to digest but it packed with vital nutrients, vitamins and oils that can prevent and heal a series of health issues.

tuna fish
Tuna fish.

Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids represent the “good” cholesterol in your body which fights against obesity and prevalence of developing heart affections. Also, unsaturated fats found in the fish meat will protect your heart against abnormal beats.

Eat less meat and dairy products

Although becoming a full vegetarian should be out of your thinking, you might want to cut down on meat and dairy products consumed daily.

These products are usually rich in fats and calories and if you buy them already processed, they might even become more dangerous than healthy for your body.

Your daily dose of saturated fats should be limited to about 10% of your total calorie intake. If you do not want to spend the rest of your life counting for calories and milligrams of sodium, take the easy path and establish 3-5 days a week in which you are allowed to eat meats and dairy products.

Leave yourself at least one day a week in which you only fruits and vegetables or, if you cannot resist the temptation, at least replace your regular dairy products with those poorer in fats.

Replace butter and lard

There is nothing wrong with cooking soul food or comfort food once in a while. A slice of fried bacon will not hurt you, nor will some ribs. However, people suffering from atrial fibrillation should watch out even more their diets than regular adults.

If you want your favorite comfort foods still in your diet, learn to cook them healthier by using unsaturated fats like olive oil or canola oil instead of your regular pork fat or butter.

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