Heart Fluttering and Palpitations on Keto

Sharbysyd

The following link was posted by Dan on another thread in this group. The thread was called "Completely new to LCHF Keto"

"Keto-flu" and Sufficient Intake of Electrolytes

I didn't want to hijack the other thread so I thought I'd start a new thread.

I tried keto over a year ago and started to have a fluttering feeling in the middle of my chest. I had previously had it on the very rare occasions, after having an SVT in 2002 which I believe was caused by a thyroid medicine. I had my heart checked back then and the cardiologist said I was fine. I had the flutter feeling possibly once or twice per year but when I tried keto, the flutter became so strong, it scared the heck out of me and I stopped keto/very low carb and was afraid to try again until recently.

The flutter improved when I started to drink 1/2 tsp salt in water daily but I still had it sometimes. I asked about the fluttering on a low carb forum and was told to go to the doctor and not really given any more info on it.

I recently added 1/2 tsp potassium chloride to my salt water and noticed that the fluttering completely stopped. But after doing research, I read that it might not be a good idea to supplement with potassium. I also take Natural Calm magnesium each night and have for years but I'm planning to make my own magnesium spray and use that instead since I feel the Natural Calm gives me agitation. Kind of ironic

Anyhow, I was so glad to find the article because it seems to say that it's okay to supplement with potassium and it explains what was happening to me. Through my research, I seem to recall reading that the fluttering could be caused in part by adrenal issues which often go hand in hand with hypothyroidism.

If anyone else has any experience with this or more info, I'd be very interested to learn more.

Thurley160

I have chronic SVT since childhood and LCHF doesn't trigger attacks for me as long as I take a teaspoon of sea salt every morning before doing anything else. I make sure to include Health Force Nutritionals Green Drink mix as it has all kinds of good green stuff in there that I wouldn't normally eat especially since I'm still working on learning to like vegetables. I've has also started supplementing with Pure Encapsulations Magnesium and Potassium. I feel really, really good these days!

Sharbysyd

Wow, a whole tsp of salt in the morning. I might try taking extra salt and see what happens. I will have to look at the Pure Encapsulations Mag and Potassium.

Thurley160

Yeah I put in a shot glass with cold water and toss it back so I don't gag!

elize7

I read in the instructions for my keto diet that I should have a cup of bouillion every morning for salt, and also to take a daily supplement of potassium. I later added the magnesium after seeing so many comments on these forums about it. If I don't have the salt and potassium, I don't feel right. Not sure of the science behind it, but I know that it works for me. I feel pretty great after 5 months on keto with serious weight loss progress.

Sharbysyd

Other than the article I posted, I had never seen anything about taking a potassium supplement but it definitely made a difference for me.

KnitOrMiss

potassium is one of the electrolytes that is dumped when your sodium and water get out of balance. If you feel totally crummy while adapting on this WOE or get muscle cramps, the culprit is likely potassium and/or magnesium. Drinking broth twice a day regularly in the first month or so helped me AVOID the low carb flu!

Sharbysyd

One thing I plan on incorporating, hopefully soon is bone broth, as soon as it cools down a bit. It's been so hot here lately, although I could make it in the slow cooker, I guess.

DittoDan

Are You Having Charlie horse/leg cramps?
Need Potassium?

I hope this helps,
Dan the Man from Michigan
Keto / IF / Sedentary
93 pounds down, 31 to go.
Previous Discussions on the LCD & Keto Groups
DittoDan's Keto Sub Groups Blog
It's Ketogenic or Bariatric Surgery! How I Found the Ketogenic Diet
Blog #10 Keto: Abbreviations, Acronyms & Terminology Used on the LCD & Keto Discussion Groups Updated
Blog #13 DittoDan's Milestone's, First's And Good Changes Since Starting the Ketogenic Diet Updated
DittoDan's Keto Blogs
How I got Off of Diabetic Prescriptions Drugs Since I Started Keto Updated
Blog #11 Really Good Keto Websites
Low Carb Discussion Group on MFP (LCD)

KnitOrMiss

Sharbysyd wrote: »

One thing I plan on incorporating, hopefully soon is bone broth, as soon as it cools down a bit. It's been so hot here lately, although I could make it in the slow cooker, I guess.

From what I understand it takes a little longer to do it this way, so please just plan accordingly. I did not use TRUE broth when started - I only had bullion broth from cubes available to me regularly at first. I now make bone broth when I can.