Many people often experience irregular heartbeat issues such as a high heart rate. In fact, some studies have shown that one in four Americans over the age of 40 has an irregular heartbeat, which is also known as heart arrhythmia.

A floating feeling in the chest is usually harmless, but some arrhythmias can be very dangerous and require immediate attention. Emotional stress and anger can make the heart work harder and increase blood pressure and cortisol levels. People who experience a lot of stress and anxiety or exercise such as running will also have a faster heart rate. Fortunately, there are many natural ways to solve this problem, including foods that lower the heart rate.

What Is the Normal Resting Heart Rate?

The resting heart rate is the lowest amount of blood that the heart can pump when not exercising. A regular resting heart rate is about 60 to 100 beats per minute for an adult in a calm, relaxed and healthy state. However, the normal heart rate can vary from person to person and even throughout the day.

It is not necessarily a problem if your heart rate is below 60 beats per minute. For instance, obese people may also have a higher than normal heart rate at rest, but it rarely exceeds 100 beats per minute.

A healthy diet with anti-inflammatory foods is essential because they contain antioxidants and phytonutrients that reduce the immune system’s overreaction. These are foods that help regulate the heartbeat:

Antioxidant-rich Foods

Foods high in antioxidants are goji berries, wild blueberries, elderberries, cranberries, dark chocolate, and artichokes. High-antioxidant foods such as quercetin and lutein also prevent heart disease and blood vessel problems.

Antioxidant Rich Foods

Raisins

Most raisins are made from the seedless Thompson grape. Also rich in fiber, magnesium, and potassium, raisins are ideal for overall heart health, especially to lower the blood pressure and regulate heart rate. Eat a handful of raisins three times a day to control your heart rate.

Nuts

Nuts, especially almonds and Brazil nuts, are excellent for heart health and heart rate regulation in general. They are high in healthy fats and nutrients such as magnesium, calcium, selenium, and potassium, all of which are important for heart health.

Legumes and Beans

Legumes are also very beneficial for heart health and heart rate regulation. They help the heart by reducing blood pressure, triglycerides, and inflammation. Some of the most common legumes are beans, chickpeas, lentils, and kidney beans.

Wild fish

Wild-caught fish such as salmon, tuna, and sardines are also excellent for lowering heart rate and overall heart health. For instance, a cross-sectional analysis of nearly 10,000 European men without heart disease published in the journal Circulation in 2003 found that fish consumption was associated with a lower heart rate. This is because these fish are rich in omega-3 fatty acids.

Salmon

Coconut oil

Coconut oil is high in saturated fat, which is good for increasing HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol levels, promoting a healthy heart rate, and lowering the risk of heart disease.

Raw Garlic and Other Herbs

A number of herbs such as coriander, thyme, basil, oregano, parsley and raw garlic are beneficial for heart health. Garlic is good for people with uncontrolled high blood pressure. The polysulfides in garlic stimulate healthy blood vessels, lowering blood pressure and thus regulating heart rate. Garlic also helps prevent heart disease and plaque build-up in the arteries.

Seeds

Seeds are another healthy source of fat that is excellent for heart health. Some seeds that are good for the heart include flaxseed, hempseed, sunflower seeds, chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, and sesame seeds. Sesame seeds, in particular, can improve thyroid health. The thyroid gland is responsible for regulating the heartbeat.

Let us know if any of these foods have helped in regulating your heartbeat in the comments below!