Diet Tips for Atrial Fibrillation and Diabetes

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Having diabetes puts you at greater risk for atrial fibrillation (afib) — the most common arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeat. That risk may be as high as 40 percent, according to a study published in August 2010 in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, but you can lower your risk by managing diabetes.

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And if you already have both conditions, the good news is that the smart diet guidelines for both are the same. "It's not very different if you have atrial fibrillation alone or diabetes along with it," says Jessica Shaw, RD, CDE, a diabetes educator in Oklahoma City. Here's how to create a heart-healthy diet to lessen the chances of complications.

Make Plate Colorful

Fill half of your plate with fruits and vegetables. Fresh, steamed, grilled, or sautéed with small amounts of heart-healthy oils, these foods provide several benefits. Fruits and vegetables are generally low in calories and high in fiber, which makes them filling and makes it easier for you to maintain a healthy weight. Still, people with afib who are on blood thinners may have to watch their consumption of green leafy vegetables. High in vitamin K, green leafy vegetables like kale and spinach can reduce the effect of certain blood thinners. Fortunately, your produce choices are still nearly endless: cucumbers, green beans, tomatoes, beets, mushrooms, carrots, strawberries, apples, and oranges, to name just a few.

Use Heart-Healthy Fats

Fats don't get as much attention as carbs when you're talking diabetes diet. But when you have diabetes, choosing your fats wisely can help lower your risk for a heart attack or stroke, which is important because afib increases your stroke risk. To protect yourself, limit unhealthy fats; the most unhealthy are saturated, or animal, fats. This means skipping whole-milk products, butter, and the skin on chicken and turkey. Trans fats are unhealthy, too, and you'll find them most often in processed foods, such as packaged baked goods, crackers, and chips. But you do need some fat in your diet, Shaw says, so choose healthy fats — olive oil, canola oil, and nuts like walnuts, almonds, and peanuts — but always in small amounts.

Go Fishing

Fatty fish can be heart-healthy fish. Good sources include albacore tuna, salmon, and rainbow trout. You can enjoy these fish two to three times a week on your diabetes and atrial fibrillation diet. Other sources of omega-3 fatty acids include tofu, walnuts, flaxseed, and canola oil. Shaw recommends adding ground flaxseed to your morning cereal or yogurt to easily bring more fiber and heart-healthy omega-3s into your diet.

Stay Whole-Grain Hearty

"Whole grains play a part in protecting your heart," Shaw says. They're also an important part of your diabetes diet. Just beware of food products that tout whole grains but contain only a small amount of them. Outsmart the advertising by reading the nutrition label — then choose foods that list whole grains as the first ingredient.