When the temperatures outside gets hotter, it may not be uncommon for you to wake up sweating. However, night sweats in the absence of high temperatures can be symptoms of another problem entirely. Night sweats can cause you to soak your bedclothes or bedding. Some of the foods you eat can contribute to night sweats while others can help to prevent them.
Significance
While the exact cause of night sweats remains unknown, scientists theorize they are due to a disconnect between your hormones and your brain. This is why night sweats are especially common in menopausal women: because their hormone levels are constantly fluctuating. The changes in hormones can trick your body into thinking its temperature is lower than it really is. As a result, the hypothalamus, the body's temperature regulator, sends out signals to increase your body temperature. This makes your heart rate increase and your blood vessels widen, increasing blood flow and heat.
Night Sweats Triggers
Certain foods and beverages are known to cause night sweats. This includes foods known as stimulants, meaning they stimulate the nervous system. Examples include caffeine-containing foods like chocolate, sodas and teas. Spicy foods also can stimulate your nervous system and potentially trigger night sweats, as well as foods that are hot in temperature. You also may want to skip on the nighttime dessert --- sugary foods and simple carbohydrates can contribute to night sweats and should be avoided.
Possible Remedies: Soy Products
Soy products like soy milk and tofu have substances called phytoestrogens in them. In some women, they have been shown to have an estrogen-like effect on the body, meaning these can have a beneficial hormone-like effect to reduce the hormone swings that can trigger night sweats. As added benefits, they are thought to relieve heart disease and breast cancer. Other foods that have an estrogen-like effect include pumpkin, sesame and sunflower seeds.
Other Remedies
If you are eating before bed to reduce night sweats, keep your food choices limited to cool, healthy foods like fruits and vegetables. These foods have micronutrients that can help to maintain hormonal balances in your body, reducing the incidence of night sweats. Other options include homeopathic remedies. These include brewing decaffeinated teas mixed with powders or herbs like Lachesis mutus, sepia or belladonna . These herbs are available at many homeopathic shops and can ease the symptoms of night sweats.
Member Comments