What are the symptoms of heart palpitations after eating?
Symptoms of heart palpitations include:
- Fluttering: You may feel a flapping or fluttery feeling in the chest. Your heart can feel like it’s doing flips.
- Irregular heart rate: Your heart might feel like it’s skipping a beat, beating out of rhythm, or speeding up and slowing down. It can also seem like your heart stops for a second or two.
- Pounding: You might feel like your heart is beating very hard. Some people who have heart pounding say they can hear their heartbeat in their ears.
What causes heart palpitations after eating?
Usually, heart palpitations are harmless. They can occur due to the chewing, swallowing and digestive process or because of ingredients you eat. Most palpitations don’t mean you have an underlying health problem.
What foods can cause heart palpitations after eating?
Foods that may cause heart palpitations include:
- High-carbohydrate foods, which can spike blood sugar levels, particularly if you have low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).
- High-sodium foods, such as processed or canned foods.
- High-sugar foods, especially if you have hypoglycemia
- Spicy or rich foods, which can cause heartburn and sometimes a quickly beating heart.
Certain ingredients in food may also trigger heart palpitations:
- Monosodium glutamate (MSG): Processed foods and some restaurant meals may contain this flavor-enhancer. People who are sensitive to MSG may have heart palpitations.
- Theobromine: Chocolate contains this naturally occurring compound found in cacao plants. Theobromine can increase heart rate, which leads to palpitations.
- Tyramine: Alcohol, aged cheeses, cured meats and dried fruit contain this amino acid. Tyramine can raise blood pressure and cause heart palpitations.
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What supplements can cause heart palpitations after eating?
Taking dietary supplements with meals can sometimes lead to heart palpitations. These supplements include:
- Bitter orange, taken for heartburn, skin health and weight loss.
- Ephedra, taken for colds, energy and headaches.
- Ginseng, taken for energy.
- Hawthorn, taken for heart conditions.
- Valerian, taken for anxiety, depression and sleep.
What medications can cause heart palpitations after eating?
Certain medications, which you might take with food, can also lead to heart palpitations. These medications include:
- Allergy, asthma and cold medicines.
- Antibiotics.
- Diet pills.
- Heart disease medications.
- High blood pressure medications.
- Insulin.
- Thyroid medications.
Are there other causes of heart palpitations after eating?
Other causes of heart palpitations related to eating and drinking may include:
- Anemia (low red blood cell count), which can result from a lack of iron in your diet.
- Dehydration when you don’t drink enough water.
- Drinking alcohol, which may lead to atrial fibrillation (irregular heart rhythm that starts in the heart’s two upper chambers).
- Feeling anxiety or stress before, during or after a meal.
- Low potassium levels (hypokalemia), which can cause arrhythmia.
Less commonly, heart palpitations after eating can be signs of a heart condition. If your heart often races after eating, see your healthcare provider for an exam. Seek help immediately if you have palpitations and chest pain or trouble breathing.
Does caffeine cause heart palpitations?
Caffeine is a stimulant found in coffee, chocolate, energy drinks, tea and soda. Providers used to think that caffeine led to heart palpitations. But recent research suggests that, in moderation (up to three cups a day), caffeine may actually have heart benefits. If you drink more than three cups per day, you may notice palpitations.
That said, some people may be particularly sensitive to caffeine, even at low levels. Also, in rare cases, drinking large amounts of energy drinks high in caffeine may cause arrhythmias.
