Bananas causing heart problems?

[vata]

I've suffered from palpitations and skipped beats off and on for 20 yrs (I'm 33), and I wonder if eating too many bananas is aggravating the problem. I do take magnesium, and eat salt, and drink enough water. But I eat at least one bunch of bananas a day. I feel like I'm going to pass out all of the time, and I'm fatigued. Is it the bananas?

[PERRAW]

A bunch might be too many. I notice in the mornings if I eat too many fruits, I get rapid heart beats. So now I make green smoothies with some fruit in it and maybe one banana. Bananas are high in sugar. My husband is hypoglycemic and he can eat bananas but usually not on an empty stomach.

[Arky]

I do take magnesium, and eat salt, and drink enough water.


Please bear in mind that the body cannot utilise the sodium in salt as effectively as that in, for example, celery, which is of an organic nature. You should very definitely consider eating or juicing some celery daily if you are eating lots of fruit.

Too much sodium or too much potassium (e.g. from fruit) can lead to a deficiency in the other, since they are delicately balanced in the body, as you are, perhaps, already aware.



...I wonder if eating too many bananas is aggravating the problem.


Well, at the risk of sounding trite (which, I assure you, is not my intention), the most effective way to find out would be to simply stop eating them for a couple of days and see how you feel.



I feel like I'm going to pass out all of the time, and I'm fatigued.

While the fatigue could be due to heart issues related to mineral imbalance, there are other possibilities:


If you're consuming lots of bananas, you're also consuming lots of fructose, particularly if they're fully ripe. This might possibly be leading your insulin response on a rollercoaster ride, the resulting dips in blood sugar levels (which inevitably follow the peaks, since the insulin is triggered to kick in, each time, and lower the blood sugar levels). Dips in blood sugar levels are a typical cause of feelings of fatigue (and the same is true of stimulants such as caffeine, of course, although for different phsyiological reasons).

Consumption of lots of fructose, and the predictable subsequent peaks in blood sugar, may, during the peaks, send your heart (and other parts of your body) 'racing', as it were, as PERRAW has noted. Glucose, in over-abundance, does affect the body in many ways.


If I were you, I'd:

* Cut down on the number of bananas you're eating

*Get into the habit of consuming celery with your fruit

*Go and get your blood mineral levels tested

* Consider a diabetes test (not because I think you have it, but because it would be a very wise thing to do if you are in the habit of eating lots of fruit and are experiencing symptoms, the cause of which you are not 100% certain).


J.



Here's a related thread:

http://tinyurl.com/2e8wy6

[gritsnla]

My mother had a problem with too high a potassium level in her blood and has to watch everything and keep account of mgs of potassium consumed. Too much potassium is a serious concern. Perhaps you need a blood test to check levels.
Take care,
Grits

[spicyfull]

I trust you have also seeked Medical advice about your Heart palps. and skipping beats. If not, I would do so immediately.

[vata]

Thanks everyone. First I'll back off on the bananas, and add some celery, and see if that helps.

[Arky]

I trust you have also seeked Medical advice about your Heart palps. and skipping beats. If not, I would do so immediately.

Vata, you did read this, didn't you? :confused: :rolleyes: ;)

Good luck.


J.

[vata]

^ Yes, I did read that. I've already done so, twice, but they could find nothing wrong, so I'm on my own.

[Arky]

Ah, ok, sorry. Was only nudging you with a wink, anyway :)

It might also be worthwhile considering a cleanse. It's a long shot but I believe there have been naturopaths who have noted correlations between some patients' heart issues and pressure (caused by obstructions) on certain points of the bowel. I regret that I can't recall exactly which book I read this in (might possibly have been a John Tilden or Bernard Jensen book - perhaps Jensen's 'Tissue Cleansing through Bowel Management', but don't hold me to that!). You have little to fear from a cleanse anyway, so it's worth considering.

Others have noted a possible correlation between oral health and heart disturbances - i.e. toxins produced by unfriendly bacteria, as a result of root canals or abscesses.

It may be that neither of these is relevant to you, I'm just offering them up for consideration, that's all.

I wish you well, please let us know how you get on.


J.

[vata]

I have noticed immediate improvement after an epsom salt water flush. Maybe because the epsom salt has magnesium. The thought of doing those makes me wretch.

Today is better, though. I've had less than one banana and I had a nice run yesterday.

[Arky]

I have noticed immediate improvement after an epsom salt water flush. Maybe because the epsom salt has magnesium. The thought of doing those makes me wretch.

Today is better, though. I've had less than one banana and I had a nice run yesterday.


Ah, well there's your answer then! :)

You were wondering if epsom salt has magnesium - that's a 100% definite because epsom salt is, in fact, Magnesium Sulphate! Can't get much more of a concentrated source of magnesium than that, although obviously it's a great deal healthier to obtain your magnesium from organic sources such as nuts, seeds (esp. sunflower) and dark leafy greens.


Do you exercise much? People who sweat a lot (no offence! ;) ) have been known to experience magnesium deficiency, leading to shooting pains around the heart during exercise (but in this case, nothing to do with angina). If memory serves me correctly, the naturopath Joseph Pizzorno discusses this in his book 'Total Wellness', but I don't have it to hand right now.


J.

[vata]

I will definitely check out the books you mentioned.