According to the Mayo Clinic, hot flashes are one of the most common symptoms of menopause. A hot flash is a sudden wave of heat mainly experienced within the upper body. This sudden onset is accompanied by chills, perspiration, rapid heart beat and becoming flushed. Though these powerful surges are no fun, three out of four women will become familiar with these hot flashes. They are more uncomfortable than a health hazard, and there area variety of ways women can ease hot flashes. Medications and home remedies such as herbals and vitamins can help. Many women find relief by avoiding certain foods that can exacerbate hot flashes.
Spicy Foods
Christiane Northrup, author of "Wisdom of Menopause," states that women should avoid spicy foods if they experience hot flashes. A woman's internal cooling system isn't always working correctly. Because of the intensity of hot flashes, women should avoid foods that are hot or spicy. Those foods can include ginger, curry, pepper and foods with capsaicin.
Caffeine
Coffee and tea and other caffeine drinks should be avoided according to Amanda M. Crawford, author of "The Herbal Menopause Book." Caffeine is a stimulant and has the tendency to raise blood pressure and heart rate. Other items with high caffeine content can include certain soft drinks, certain energy drinks and chocolate.
Suagr
Sugar is sweet and produces heat according to Holly Thacker, author of "The Cleveland Clinic Guide to Menopause." When a woman enters menopause, she begin to lose her estrogen. This can lower production of glucose transporters. In addition, consuming sugar can lead to increased heart rates and rises and falls in blood glucose, which causes sweating and rapid heart beating.
Other Foods
Dr. Ron Eaker, author of "Woman's Guide to Hormone Health," states there are several other foods women need to avoid in order to tame the hot flashes. Processed foods that can have a great deal of sodium and sugars as well as MSG and nitrates can all trigger hot flashes. In addition, Dr. Eaker suggests women avoid drinking alcohol as it is another trigger for hot flashes as well as night sweats.
References
- The Wisdom of Menopause; Christiane Northrup; 2001
- The Cleveland Clinic Guide to Menopause; Holly Thacker; 2009
- Woman's Guide to Hormone Health; Ron Eaker MD; 2009
