The Hot and Cold of HOT Flushes!

What are Hot Flushes?

Hot flushes, are a vasomotor symptom of menopause. This means that hot flushes can disrupt the usual functioning of the vascular and motor systems of the body, causing intense heat, perspiration, and other symptoms ranging from mild to severe. 

Women with menopause-related hot flushes will usually experience a consistent and unique pattern of symptoms. The duration and frequency of hot flushes varies from woman to woman, but they can occur at any time of the day or night. They are often called night sweats when they happen during sleep.

 Some women experience mild symptoms of hot flushes infrequently, while others have more severe symptoms more than once daily.

 Signs and Symptoms of Hot Flushes

 

The following are the most common signs and symptoms of hot flashes:

• Sudden, intense feelings of heat in the face, neck, arms, torso, and sometimes the whole body.
• Rapid or irregular heartbeat and pulse, including heart palpitations.
• Flushing, or reddened face and neck, particularly in lighter skinned women.
• Perspiration ranging from mild to profuse.
• Cold chills often follow hot flushes, though sometimes women only experience the chill.
• Sleep disturbances are characteristic of hot flushes that occur at night, also known as night sweats. Estrogen levels are often lowest at night, which is why women often experience nocturnal hot flushes.
• Other Symptoms can include: Nausea, Dizziness, Anxiety and Headaches.

Some women who experience hot flushes during menopause have experimented with the foods they crave and eat and have found several ways to manage hot flushes in order to reduce their frequency and/or severity by adjusting their diet. In many cases, simple steps can be taken throughout the day to prevent or allay hot flushes, like having cool showers or resting with the fan turned on. Once recognised, avoiding the common triggers of hot flushes is an important way to combat the hot flushes. 

Reducing hot flushes through diet:

The theory of Chinese medicine requires that you consume cold, or cooling foods when you are hot, and hot, or warming foods when you are cold. The definition of "hot" and "cold" foods does not refer merely to the food temperature, but to its energetic properties. It's beneficial to notice the type of foods you eat and whether they are cooked or raw; what color they are; and whether it is spicy or bland and what effects you experience after eating these foods.

Green Salad

This is a brief list of which foods to avoid or include in your diet:


Eat More Cooling Foods

apples
bananas
tomatoes
citrus fruits
watermelon
all leafy greens
broccoli and cauliflower
zuccini
soy milk, tofu and other soy products
mung beans
amaranth
wheat
seaweed
yogurt
peppermint                                                                     

Tofu with Coriander, Mung Beans and Lemon

cilantro / fresh coriander                                          
lemon balm                                                              


include Neutral Foods

rice
rye
corn
peas
lentils
large beans


Avoid Warming Foods
ginger root
oats
spelt
quinoa
sesame
nuts
fennel
anise
carob
cumin
all root vegetables
onions
garlic
spicy leafy greens, like mustard greens
eggs
most meats

This is a relatively simple regime to follow and it is easy to determine quickly which foods aggravate menopausal symptoms and which foods alleviate them. By balancing your diet, you have the chance to cool yourself down and avoid these unpleasant aggravations. Eat to stay cool and don't forget the all important drinking of water. 

Green Barley & Lemon ~ The Ultimate Detox 101