I am writing to you to share my experiences with nutritional choices and ectopic beats.
I have suffered from Paroxysmal Supraventricular Tachycardia and ectopic beats since 1994 (14 yrs old). I did not take my diet seriously until 2014, when my PSVT started getting worse, and I wanted to avoid ablation. I grew up eating the standard American diet.
In 2014, I started taking magnesium supplements from a reputable company called Jigsaw Health. They also have electrolyte powder to mix with water. I started noticing a significant difference in the amount of ectopics, just by increasing my electrolytes.
I also bought a Nutribullet blender, and started making a healthy smoothie for breakfast every morning. It has also significantly reduced my symptoms! My body feels at ease when I feed it properly. I mix banana, spinach, frozen berries, raw ginger root and turmeric, chia seeds, and Himalayan sea salt. That is my base recipe, but I usually throw in whatever I have (radishes, cucumber, avocado, kale, maca powder, etc! The possibilities are endless!)
Fruits, vegetables and whole foods like nuts and eggs make up a large portion of my diet now. The good nutrients, potassium and magnesium have significantly improved my tachycardic heart. I also exercise 4 days a week, get 8 hrs of sleep, and participate in hobbies that reduce my stress like prayer, reading and meditation.
I still experience 1-2 PSVT episodes a year, but they are much more mild, and they only happen when I am going through a large amount of stress (mentally or physically). My new healthy lifestyle decreased my ectopic beats. I only experience them when I am not taking care of myself, and then it reminds me to up my magnesium, increase my electrolytes, or get more rest.
I hope my story can be used to help others. If there is one thing this condition has taught me, it is to take care of my body.
Thank you for all of the amazing work you do to educate others about their heart conditions. It really means a lot!
What kind of magnesium is the best to take?
Maca can act as a stimulant. Within 2 weeks of taking daily maca I had severe episodes of PVCs. I repeated taking maca a month later just to confirm my initial reaction and had the same result.
BTW, Taking 200 mg of Taurine daily reduced my PVCs by 95%.
I had a similar experience to you
How long did the maca induced PVCs last ? I was taking it a few weeks ago and now I’m in my second week of PVCs even after stopping for a while
How long did the maca induced PVCs last. I stopped taking it sometime ago but I’m still having the pvcs
These diet changes are very helpful to me. It’s been a focus for me lately. I recently had a gluten test and it was negative for ciliac disease but I sure can’t tolerate gluten as I get palpitations and an increase heart rate. I’ve found that daily magnesium taurate, avoiding gluten and dairy helps me reduce my palpitations. I also avoid sugar and sugary foods. I eat vegetables, lean protein and fruits. I can’t seem to tolerate bananas in my smoothie though as they give me a fast heart rate. Any foods with a high glycemic index causes a fast heart rate.
I exercise daily and try to reduce my stress and get enough sleep.
Hi Yvonne. Up until a couple of weeks ago I was getting palpitations almost constantly. Every few seconds my heart was skipping a beat. I stopped eating anything with gluten and also no dairy. I don’t get any ectopics at all now. Really interesting book called “Grain Brain” by Dr Permutter. I highly recommend. Also “Wheat Belly” by Dr William Davis. Thanks for sharing your diet changes. John
I have found the same!
My triggers are over eating, a heavy carb meal, MSG or foods with preservatives. (constipation will also cause an episode for me.)
Eating clean, keeping electrolytes in balance, and treating my sleep apnea has been the key to almost Eliminating my SVT episodes.
BRIDGET, How do you treat ur sleep apnea? Do you use a CPAP? I’m just now testing for sleep apnea with a 2 night apparatus that I will send back for evaluation. And what about the electrolyte balance?
My husband has pretty much cured his sleep apnea by taping his mouth closed with a special tape called somnifix!
Hey All
It is interesting to hear your story’s. I recently started taking electrolytes and within two days my PVCs have reduced. I am hoping that my sleep improves. I am taking all your experience on board and changing my diet to see if this helps. My PVCs are mainly due to stress but overall I feel better. It’s really good to hear others are experiencing the same. I don’t feel so isolated now..