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Bananas and palpitations
I have noticed that after every time I eat a banana, my heart has fairly strong palpitations for 1-2 minutes. It is the oddest thing. Does anyone have any information about this? I have never had a food allergy, but for some reason these episodes happen like clockwork immediately after I eat a banana.
I currently take atenolol 50mg once per day to deal with another minor arrythmia, but this seems much different.
I currently take atenolol 50mg once per day to deal with another minor arrythmia, but this seems much different.
We have such infinite choices in fresh fruit and vegetables in the southeastern US. Not sure where you are located. I like to cut a large bowl of fresh fruit salad on Sunday and keep it in the fridge. I usually do it while I am catching up with friends on the phone so I feel like I am multitasking. I will usually have to cut more in a couple days, but it stays pretty well. My husband's doctor told him to lay off bananas, so I dont keep them around. (HAH!) Lots of types of melons and say strawberries, raspberries or blueberries, whatever season is running. Some grapes. Pineapple if it looks good. I got some reusable / throwaway bowls and I have snack to go. Beats being limited to just one flavor anyday. If you dont have a refrig at work, buy a small lunchbox size cooler. Well worth it.
If it bothers you...don't eat it. That's a good bit of advice. It does seem to me that the potassium in a banana causing palps immediately after eating it may be a stretch. I am NOT saying that it doesn't happen, nor am I admonishing the possible connection. I am just saying that the potassium in a banana would not even begin to be absorbed into the bloodstream until at least 30 minutes after ingestion, and so the potassium link is probably nullified. Maybe, if bananas cause you a consistent problem with palps, there is another mechanism involved. Some claim a vagal response to swallowing...do you eat bananas the way many of us do??? Three gigantic bites and it's gone :-)?
Anyway...I read the posts, and wanted to say that...while the connection between bananas and palps may be more than coincidence, it's probably not the potassium that presents the trigger.
Anyway...I read the posts, and wanted to say that...while the connection between bananas and palps may be more than coincidence, it's probably not the potassium that presents the trigger.
1 Comments
I believe it's the sugar
By the way...read Celeste77's post about potassium/magnesium connections to IST. Really good stuff, and deals with some of this amazingly well!!!
Consider that it could be the "sugar" and not the "potassium" in the banana bringing on more pvcs. I absolutely have more pvcs when I eat sugar or carbs.
3 Comments
Yes, I believe it's the sugar in the banana. I read where eating a banana is like having 12 teaspoons of sugar. I had a banana earlier, and now I have rapid heart beats. I'm begining to think it's sugar.
Yes, I believe it's the sugar in the banana. I read where eating a banana is like having 12 teaspoons of sugar. I had a banana earlier, and now I have rapid heart beats. I'm begining to think it's sugar.
I tested my glucose (because I'm type II diabetic), and it was 112, which is good.
The reason I came to this web site is because I was wondering if anyone else besides myself experienced palpitations after eating a banana. I've been near being a basket case for two months now, but have had them before. I've had echocardiograms and all prove nothing more than stress. So what the heck causes the darned things?
I try to power up on potassium because diuretics in my BP med depletes the potassium. I'd much rather keep a good balance of potassium by eating the proper foods than take those white caplets large enough to choke a horse. The body can get rid of excess potassium it gets from food, but cannot dispose of excess potassium by supplements when there's too much in the system. But back to the banana thing, I've noticed the palpitations start up after I've had my morning banana.
I try to power up on potassium because diuretics in my BP med depletes the potassium. I'd much rather keep a good balance of potassium by eating the proper foods than take those white caplets large enough to choke a horse. The body can get rid of excess potassium it gets from food, but cannot dispose of excess potassium by supplements when there's too much in the system. But back to the banana thing, I've noticed the palpitations start up after I've had my morning banana.
1 Comments
Happens to me, too. It's happening right now. I think it's the sugar in the banana. As I've got older, I get a reaction from sugar. I very seldom have anything with sugar anymore. Didn't think the banana would bother me, but when I researched it, it said it was like eating 12 teaspoons of sugar.
Google "Help I am allergic to banana" and you will find an article by David Cowley. It really explains allergies from bananas and other fruits. Some of the proteins in a banana can cause heart palps! AND YES if it is an allergy...it can happen immediately! Look what happens to someone allergic to peanuts. They can just smell one and go into shock. A friend of mine had to be intubated immediately because of his peanut allergy. He ate a cookie which he didn't know had been sitting next to a peanut butter cookie. Went into immediate swelling. Check into this!
Cindy
Cindy
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