Atrial Fibrillation, or AFib, is the most common type of heart arrhythmia that can interrupt the normal flow of blood. In AFib, signals in your upper chambers become chaotic and can quiver.  The blood can then stagnate and pool in the upper chamber putting one at risk for other cardiac complications like stroke.

The first objective is to lower the risk of AFib episodes by treating the root causes of the condition. This is done by lowering inflammation, keeping blood pressure under control, reducing oxidative stress, removing toxins (mold, envirotoxins and heavy metals), increasing antioxidant status, increasing energy and strength in heart cells, restoring nutrient levels in cells, and increasing nitric oxide.

This is where all of the essential minerals and vitamins, fatty acids and antioxidants come into play. The goal of these key AFib foods is to provide the necessary nutrients for the heart to beat in rhythm and function better. Luckily, these foods are all a part of a healthy Paleo diet.

Top 10 foods for AFib:

1. 1. Dark green leafy vegetables

      Dark green leafy vegetables such as kale, arugula or spinach are rich in dietary nitrates. These nitrates get converted to nitric oxide in the body. Nitric oxide is a molecule needed to relax blood vessels, increase blood flow and restore endothelial functioning. It also has powerful anti-arrhythmic effects.

      Main AFib role: NITRIC OXIDE PRODUCTION

      Try a Paleo recipe: Paleo Triple Green Kale Salad

   2. Wild-caught salmon

      Fatty fish, such as salmon, is the single best source of essential omega 3 fatty acids. Omega 3 stabilizes heart cells, prevents heart arrhythmias, reduces cellular inflammation and lowers risk of AFib overall.

      Main AFib role: ANTI-INFLAMMATORY

      Try a Paleo recipe: Sweet and Spicy Glazed Salmon

   3. Avocado

      Avocados are arguably one of the most important foods for heart health, especially for AFib. Avocados are rich in key “heart rhythm” minerals such as potassium and magnesium. One avocado per day provides adequate amounts of these two minerals that are needed to regulate heart rhythm and support proper relaxation and contraction of heart muscle cells.

      Main AFib role: RHYTHM REGULATION

      Try a Paleo recipe: Crunchy Cucumber and Avocado Salad

   4. Grass-fed beef

      Grass-fed red meat is rich in heart-healthy nutrients including carnitine, CoQ10, D-ribose and taurine. All of these nutrients are cellular energy nutrients that increase ATP production in heart muscle cells. When energy is increased in heart cells then cardiac functioning improves. Taurine also helps to regulate mineral balance in cells and stabilize heart cell membranes. Together, all of these nutrients help to reduce AFib risk.

      Main AFib role: CELLULAR ENERGY

      Try a Paleo recipe: Paleo Grass Fed Burgers

   5. Dark berries

      Dark berries, like raspberries, strawberries, and blueberries, are rich in phytonutrients and antioxidants. Dietary antioxidants help to reduce toxin load, lower oxidative stress, decrease cellular inflammation and boost heart muscle cell functioning. They are crucial nutrients to preventing and healing cardiovascular conditions.

      Main AFib role: ANTIOXIDANT SUPPORT

      Try a Paleo recipe: Avocado-Berry Smoothie

   6. Pasture-raised eggs

      Eggs are abundant in healthy fats and choline. Healthy fats stabilize heart cell membranes. Choline helps to keep the blood vessels strong and healthy. Decreased choline levels have been linked to mitochondrial dysfunction and increased AFib risk. Pasture-raised eggs also contain CoQ10, vitamins B6/B12, and D-ribose, all of which help to increase heart muscle cell function.

      Main AFib role: HEART CELL FUNCTION

      Try a Paleo recipe: Breakfast Egg Muffins

   7. Beets

      Beets are the best source of dietary nitrates, which get converted to nitric oxide in the body. Nitric oxide dilates blood vessels, lowers blood pressure, and keeps the heart healthy. Nitric oxide has anti-arrhythmic effects and could play a role in reducing the severity of ventricular arrhythmias. Beets also have ideal levels of magnesium in them, a key mineral for regulation of heart rhythm.

      Main AFib role: NITRIC OXIDE PRODUCTION

      Try a Paleo recipe: Rosemary Beets with Garlicky Kale

   8. Grass-fed organ meat

      Organ meat, such as beef heart, is a carnivore superfood for the heart. Beef heart contains key minerals, L-carnitine, vitamin B6 and CoQ10 to protect, strengthen, and stabilize heart muscle cells. Organ meats support the body’s organs in an organ-specific fashion (i.e. heart helps the heart). Organ meat is actually one of the best sources of CoQ10 (an antioxidant for the heart) that increases energy uptake in heart cells and helps them to become stronger.

      Main AFib role: STRENGTHENING THE HEART

      Try a Paleo recipe: Bacon, Apple and Chicken Liver Skillet

   9. Bone broth

      Bone broth is rich in heart-strengthening nutrients such as collagen along with amino acids like glutamine and glycine. These protein components are very healing and strengthening to the heart muscle cells. They play a role in stabilizing heart cell membranes and increasing cellular function. Bone broth also provides ideal amounts of magnesium and potassium to optimize heart rhythm.

      Main AFib role: STRENGTHENING THE HEART

      Try a Paleo recipe: Beef Bone Broth

   10. Watercress

       Watercress is a leafy, cruciferous vegetable from the same family as broccoli. It is rich in sulfur and quercetin, making it highly detoxifying to heart cells. As a result, it helps to lower oxidative stress, reduce inflammation, and help the heart cells function better. It is also abundant in B vitamins, potassium and antioxidants to improve cardiac functioning

       Main AFib role: DETOXIFICATION

       Try a Paleo recipe: Creamy Watercress Soup

Looking to conquer your AFIB? Join our online course. You can learn more about this opportunity at NaturalHeartDoctor.com/afib