Рет қаралды 143,129
Hi! I'm Stelios Pantazis.
I'm a doctor and I specialize in
medical nutrition and metabolic disorders.
Today, I'd like to talk about
the ideal diet for atrial fibrillation.
Atrial fibrillation is a condition
characterised by arrhythmia.
Namely, the heart beats don't occur
in regular intervals.
In the beginning,
the condition is paroxysmal,
namely the attacks appear and stop
automatically after a while.
If this situation progresses,
the attacks require some kind
of intervention in order to stop,
and if this situation progresses even more,
atrial fibrillation becomes a permanent
and irreversible situation.
When the situation becomes irreversible,
the only solution is medication.
But while it is still reversible,
we can change our lifestyle,
in order to make sure
that it won't become permanent
or at least in order to slow down
its progression into a permanent form.
To achieve that, we may need medication too.
However, the change of lifestyle
is the most significant treatment approach
at this stage.
It hasn't been fully understood yet why
some people suffer from atrial fibrillation,
but we've observed a series of risk factors,
namely a series of factors that increase
the risk of these arrhythmia attacks
that may lead to permanent
atrial fibrillation in the long run.
Before talking about the ideal diet,
let's see the factors that increase
the risk of atrial fibrillation,
because by studying them,
it will be easier to understand
what we should eat to reduce the risk
of the occurrence and establishment
of atrial fibrillation.
Increased weight.
Increased weight is one of the most
important reversible risk factors
for the occurrence of atrial fibrillation.
Studies have shown that weight loss
and the maintenance of normal weight
significantly reduce the risk
of atrial fibrillation,
as well as the risk of atrial fibrillation
becoming permanent.
Cholesterol, diabetes and hypertension.
Cholesterol, diabetes and hypertension
are the three most important factors
that increase the risk
of problems of the myocardium.
One of the problems they may cause
is atrial fibrillation.
Coffee, smoking and alcohol.
Coffee, cigarette smoke and alcohol
contain substances
that stimulate the myocardium,
namely substances that make
the heart beat faster,
and studies have shown that
long exposure to these factors
increases the risk of atrial fibrillation.
Sleep apnoea.
Sleep apnoea is a sneaky disease
that destroys sleep
and causes a series
of serious health problems,
one of which is atrial fibrillation.
Family history.
If a first-degree relative, namely
a parent or sibling, suffer from it,
the risk that you'll suffer
from it too is higher.
As it is obvious,
from the factors we presented,
some factors are reversible,
while some others are irreversible.
Today, we're talking about those
the concern the diet,
which are reversible, of course.
We're starting from the foods
that you should increase in your diet
or introduce to your diet,
if you haven't done so already.
First, olive oil.
Many studies have repeatedly shown
that olive oil has miraculous abilities
concerning heart rhythm.
If you're looking for a food that
miraculously fixes the heart rhythm,
many studies have shown
that this is olive oil.
Second, fruit and vegetables.
Fruit and vegetables are the best way
to reduce cholesterol,
blood pressure and the risk of diabetes.
As these factors are very important
for the risk of atrial fibrillation,
by making sure your diet is rich
in fruit and vegetables,
you'll significantly reduce
the risk of atrial fibrillation.
Third, legumes and grains.
I never get tired of saying how important
legumes and unprocessed grains are for health.
I'm particularly concerned by the fact
that modern diets
are pushing us away
from the traditional Mediterranean diet,
which is rich in legumes
and unprocessed grains.
Many people trying to lose weight
increase the intake of animal protein
and at the same time reduce
legumes and unprocessed grains,
thinking that they make them fat.
This is really bad for their health,
particularly for their heart's health.
The traditional Mediterranean diet is
based on legumes and unprocessed grains,
which should be both abundant in our diet.
Now that I've presented the foods
that protect us from atrial fibrillation,
I'd like to present the foods
that significantly increase
the risk of atrial fibrillation,
so that you know which foods
you should avoid as much as possible
or even quit.
First, coffee and alcohol.
As I said earlier, coffee and alcohol
contain substances
that stimulate the myocardium,
namely they make the heart beat faster.
This increases the risk
of atrial fibrillation.
People concerned by the risk
of atrial fibrillation
or suffering from paroxysmal
atrial fibrillation
who want to reduce the risk
of the situation becoming permanent
should definitely quit coffee and alcohol.
Second, red meat.