Natural Beta Blockers: 7 Foods That Might Replace Pills

With the rising number of people with heart-related disorders and anxiety looking at alternatives to traditional medicine, many are trying foods that could act as natural beta blockers to replace their prescribed pharmaceutical pills.

T. Jared Bunch, a heart care specialist and medical director for heart rhythm services for the Intermountain Healthcare network in Utah, wrote for Everyday Health that while people with heart disease and heart-related disorders should avoid eating excessive amounts of red meat, other foods could possibly act as natural beta blockers as ingesting them promotes a healthy lifestyle in general.

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Some of those foods are:

• Olive oil, avocado oil, grapeseed oil
• Dark chocolate (or products with 70% or more cocoa)
• Garlic
• Fish (not fried)
• Walnuts, sunflower seeds, almonds, pecans
• Blueberries, cherries, raspberries, strawberries, pineapple, apples
• Whole grain bread

Bunch included green tea in the list of foods that could be consumed that has anti-inflammatory properties.

While these foods haven’t been directly linked to treating heart conditions, many of the foods’ properties were found in small studies to promote anti-inflammation, which in turn could impact atrial fibrillation. Commonly known as “AFib,” atrial fibrillation “is a quivering or irregular heartbeat that can lead to stroke and other heart-related complications,” according to the American Heart Association.

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“What we are assuming is that if inflammation and atrial fibrillation are linked, and a certain food source reduces inflammation, then the food source will reduce atrial fibrillation,” Bunch wrote.

When it comes to eating red meat, the American Heart Association agrees with Bunch and recommends increased consumption of fish, chicken, and beans.

“It’s OK to eat red meat as long as you limit the amount,” according to the AHA’s website. “The American Heart Association recommends that people limit lean meat, skinless chicken and fish to less than six ounces per day, total. Fish (3.5 oz./serving) should be eaten at least twice per week, preferably fish high in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, trout, and herring.”

This article is for information only and is not intended as medical advice. Talk with your doctor about your specific health and medical needs.

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