Heart palpitations, also known as a form of arrhythmia, are bouts of rapid heartbeat. Palpitations may occur in response to extreme emotions such as fear or excitement, physical activity, pregnancy, certain medications, products that contain nicotine and certain foods and beverages. If you frequently experience heart palpitations, avoiding various foods and beverages may help reduce your symptoms.
Caffeinated Beverages
Caffeine is a stimulant that can peak alertness and boost energy when consumed in appropriate amounts. According to health experts at the Cleveland Clinic, caffeine may cause heart palpitations for some individuals. If you experience heart palpitation, limit or avoid caffeinated beverages such as coffee, most teas, energy drinks and soft drinks. Sugar can exacerbate the stimulant effect of caffeine, so avoid sugary caffeinated beverages in particular. Herbal teas, decaffeinated coffee, water and pure fruit or vegetable juices are safe alternatives to caffeinated beverages.
Chocolate
The primary ingredient in chocolate, cacao, also contains caffeine. Chocolate is substantially lower in caffeine than caffeinated beverages such as coffee, but may influence the occurrence of heart palpitations for those who are particularly sensitive. If you are sensitive to caffeine and experience frequent heart palpitations, reducing the amount of chocolate in your diet is recommended. For those who are mildly or moderately affected, modest amounts of chocolate may be acceptable.
Monosodium Glutamate
Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is an additive in foods designed to enhance and preserve flavor. According to Mayo Clinic dietitian Katherine Zeratsky, some individuals have adverse reactions to MSG, such as rapid heartbeat. Scientific evidence to support the correlation between MSG and heart palpitations is lacking, but numerous individuals claim to experience such symptoms short term following consumption of food that contains the additive. If you are concerned about heart palpitations in response to MSG, limit or avoid processed foods such as canned soups, commercially prepared snack foods, fast food, chicken and beef stock and Asian foods, as they typically contain the additive.
Ginseng and Guarana
Ginseng and guarana are herbal supplements commonly found in dietary and weight-loss products as well as various foods and beverages that claim to increase metabolism or energy. According to research published in "The International Association for the Study of Obesity" in 2005, herbal ingredients such as ginseng and guarana are stimulants that may cause heart palpitations for some individuals. Because many of these products do not indicate precise content amounts of potentially harmful ingredients on the product packaging, it is difficult to know how harmful they may potentially be. Avoid foods and beverages that contain these ingredients to improve personal health and safety.
