Improve Hot Flashes by Avoiding These 6 Foods
Move over penguins. You’re ready to live where there’s lots of cold and snow. Surely that would put an end these sizzling hot flashes.
Before you call the moving truck and make such a drastic move, why not take a look at what you’re eating. You might be able to decrease your hot flashes by making some adjustments to your diet.
There are foods – yes, good ones – that worsen hot flashes, so avoiding them could be key for cooling off. No diet is fun, but it’s worth looking yours over if some adjustments would eliminate some of those steaming hot flashes.
It might not be easy, but start avoiding the following foods and see if you notice an improvement in your hot flashes.
Sugar
Women in menopause + sugar = more hot flashes. Sugar has to go. And not just the white, powdered stuff. You need to read labels and cut back on processed foods and products with sugar, as well as foods that easily turn into sugar – like refined carbs.
Fat
A diet high in fat is likely to cause more hot flashes. Why? You’re probably carrying around some extra weight from it, and those extra pounds put you at higher risk for hot flashes. A diet high in fat also changes how your body processes and metabolizes estrogen which can then lead to more hot flashes.
Spicy Foods
Sure, they taste good and add some flare to your meals, but spicy foods do more than give your tongue a zing. They also heat up your core body temperature. For a menopausal women with a faulty internal thermostat, that means a hot flash.
Hot Foods
Like spicy foods, piping hot foods and drinks increase your core body temperature. As your body heats up, it triggers a hot flash.
Caffeine
Caffeine sets off a chain reaction in your body. It stimulates your nervous system and increases your heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature – all of which can cause a hot flash. If you drink hot coffee, tea, or cocoa, you further increase your chances of heating up and having a hot flash.
Alcohol
Alcohol increases your body temperature which can trigger a hot flash. It also increases your blood pressure and heart rate which also trigger hot flashes.
In a nutshell, you know you need to avoid candy bars and sodas, chips and salsa, and french fries and double cheeseburgers. It may sound hard, but you can do it. And it will be worth it.
Rather than try to make all the changes alone, work with your doctor. She can help you create a low-fat diet plan that’s appealing and satisfying. She can also give you tips about good fats, sugar alternatives, and snacks that will help prevent hot flashes.
This content was written by staff of HysterSisters.com by non-medical professionals based on discussions, resources and input from other patients for the purpose of patient-to-patient support. Reprinted with permission: Improve Hot Flashes by Avoiding These 6 Foods
