Menopausal hot flashes: summer foods to cool down

Hot flashes are one of the most talked about symptoms of the menopausal transition. They can begin in early perimenopause and continue on well into your 70s. The reason for them, and most other symptoms, is your falling levels of estrogen. Estrogen has many responsibilities, and when your levels shrink, some of its jobs get neglected, in this case body temperature regulation.

It would be nice if your body would give you a reprieve from your hot flashes during summer, but unfortunately for you hot weather only exacerbates these devilish waves of heat that can be nearly debilitating for some women. Many women turn to hormone replacement therapy (HRT) as they feel they have no other option. What these women may not realize is the profound impact a healthy diet and regular exercise can have on their health and hormone regulation.

One lucky thing about cooking in summer is the amount of produce that is in season. With all the fresh, local fruits and vegetables you have at your disposal, you have all the equipment you need to get creative in the kitchen. To help get your imagination flowing, below are some summery dishes and food for thought.

Food to banish your summer hot flashes

Blueberries

Raspberries and strawberries are also ideally purchased in the summertime. These power-packed berries are filled with antioxidants that have cancer and age fighting properties as well as estrogen boosting powers. They are easy to keep around to eat by the handful, throw into a cobbler (using raw sugar, of course), or sprinkle into a spinach salad if you feel like surprising your taste buds.

Cucumber

Are you as cool as a cucumber, or would you like to be? Incorporating cool foods like cucumber can actually help to lower and regulate your body temperature. Try cutting one up along with a tomato and a red onion. Marinate in some vinegar with a dash of sugar and pepper and voila! You have a salad that can be a satisfying lunch all on its own or an easy side dish to take to a barbeque.

Eggplant

A "fleshy" vegetable that can be used en lieu meat. Try steaming sliced eggplant and coating the pieces while hot with a dressing made of soy sauce, sesame seed, ginger, olive oil, lime juice, vinegar, cilantro and any other seasoning your creative mind chooses.

For more information

If you would like to eat the freshest vegetables available to you, ask your grocer to point you in the direction of the "local" section. If you eat vegetables grown where you live, there is no traveling time wasted that could compromise the nutrient level of your produce. If you find that eating healthfully and exercising regularly have no impact on your menopausal hot flashes and other symptoms, you may want to talk with your doctor about the alternative treatments available. For more information about hot flash treatments follow this link.

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