Hot flashes are an unpleasant part of going through the menopause, and for most women, they are by far the worst menopause symptom. Imagine this you're out enjoying a coffee with some friends when a hot flash starts. You start sweating, you turn bright red, and your heart rate goes up.
Fortunately, there are some things that women who are going through the menopause can do about these nasty hot flashes. Let's first take a look at where hot flashes, or hot flashes if you're British, come from. While women are of childbearing age, and are ovulating regularly, there the hormones estrogen and progesterone are plentiful. It's when the hormonal balance is disturbed that menopause symptoms set in.
Hot flashes happen because estrogen plays a role in regulating a woman's body temperature. The body gets too hot, and reacts by releasing fluids through the skin more commonly known as sweating. A hot flash is over in a few seconds, but it is certainly not nice to go through.
What can you do about hot flashes during the menopause?
It may seem like there's nothing much a woman can do about hot flashes. After all, 80 percent of all menopausal women get them. They can disappear as a menopause symptom within months, but some ladies suffer from them for years. Thankfully, hot flashes can be alleviated, at least to a point.
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is the most well-known treatment for menopause symptoms. There are also non-hormonal treatments and many (very dubious) homeopathic and other alternative treatments. One thing you may like to try when hot flashes are bothering you is by changing your diet.
Asian women suffer from hot flashes and other menopause symptoms much less than their European and American counterparts. Why? Food probably plays a role. Some plants contain hormones called phytoestrogens, and help to alleviate symptoms in that way. Those include soy beans and their products, nuts like almonds, sunflower seeds, flaxseed, and chickpeas, and lentils. In addition, wheat and corn may help too.
What other foods can menopausal women use to combat their symptoms?
According to some, mango and papaya have a positive influence, as do cabbage, pepper, and broccoli. Then, there are products that actually exacerbate symptoms. You may have guessed that they include coffee and alcohol. Spicy foods, white flower, and sugars can do the same. Menopausal women could benefit from keeping a food diary to see which foods trigger hot flashes. You can also talk to a nutritionist for more information about which foods can alleviate your symptoms.
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