Proper body care, learning about specific triggers, and taking a more holistic approach to heart health can help you manage your condition.

Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is the most common form of irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia).

People with AFib have many treatment options, including medications and medical procedures. However, there are natural and alternative treatments that you may discuss with your healthcare team to help manage your condition.

Caffeine is a stimulant that energizes the central nervous system and may increase your heart rate. However, research isn’t clear on whether caffeine — coffee, in particular — has any practical effect on AFib risk.

You may want to limit how much caffeine you consume as a general healthy practice and a simple method to possibly help your heart health.

People who have AFib or are more at risk for AFib and heart-related concerns may also consider limiting alcohol. This 2021 research in the European Heart Journal notes that even moderate alcohol drinking each day raises the risk of AFib.

That research noted that the clinical strategy of reducing how much alcohol someone drinks could possibly help prevent many AFib cases.

This goes along with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendationsTrusted Source, on making healthy lifestyle changes to manage your health and any heart-related risk factors that might include AFib.

Eating a heart-healthy diet rich in various fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins is highly recommended. Good sources of protein include:

Foods to fill up on (low in vitamin K)

Fruits and veggies should be central to your diet, especially those low in vitamin K. This is particularly important if you are taking warfarin for your AFib. Heart-healthy examples include:

Foods to eat in moderation (high in vitamin K)

Many healthy foods are high in vitamin K. These foods can still be a part of a heart-healthy diet, and may include:

Talk with your healthcare professional if you are prescribed warfarin and your diet is high in any of these vitamin K-rich foods. Your team can help monitor your vitamin K levels and guide you on the best options for your health, including prescription blood thinners.

Foods to avoid

It’s important to eat an anti-inflammatory diet when you have AFib. This includes limiting:

You might consider taking supplements to boost your cardiac health.

Fish oil has received much attention for its possible antiarrhythmic effects, and some research does show that it may increase your AFib risk.

Other supplements you might consider include:

Consult your healthcare team before taking any supplements.

What you do with your body is just as important as what you put into it. Some form of exercise is critical for you, but in the case of AFib, it’s possible to have too much of a good thing.

The American Heart Association recommendsTrusted Source at least 2.5 to 5 hours a week of moderate exercise, which can lower one’s chances of developing AFib.

This 2024 study found that those people averaging a minimum of that amount of exercise each week may have a 60% lower risk of developing AFib, and those averaging more than 5 hours a week of that physical activity had a 65% AFib risk reduction.

That said, recent research has also found that endurance exercise beyond those recommended levels is linked to a higher AFib risk.

Emotional health affects physical health as well. Research suggests that limiting stress can play a role in reducing the risk for AFib.

Try to reduce stress wherever you can. Getting enough sleep every night, coupled with a tailored exercise routine, should help.

You can lower the risk of developing AFib by making lifestyle changes that include limiting caffeine and alcohol, exercising regularly, and reducing stress. Natural and alternative treatments include herbs and supplements, as well as increasing certain types of foods that you eat daily.

Your healthcare team can help guide you in making the healthiest heart-healthy choices and address any AFib concerns you may have.