Hot flashes are quick feelings of heat that are usually most intense on the chest, face, and neck. They are often the most frequent symptom of menopause, the time when a woman’s menstrual period stops. Each woman may experience hot flashes differently, and they can occur randomly throughout the day or night.
The exact cause of hot flashes is unknown, but the primary belief is that they are mostly caused by circulation changes or the hormonal changes during menopause. Roughly two-thirds of American women experience hot flashes during menopause. The drop of estrogen levels somehow confuses the hypothalamus, the body’s thermostat, and makes it read “hot.” When the blood vessels near the skin’s surface dilate to a cool temperature the hot flash takes place. Some women may also sweat during hot flashes to cool down their bodies.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture has been proven to reduce the amount of hot flashes women experience during menopause. Additionally, it can help lower other menopausal symptoms. Acupuncture helps to naturally de-stress the body and calm the nerves. A woman can also practice meditation to manage her stress levels. Since stress is a common hot flash trigger, it’s best to keep stress levels down.
Eat Your Magnesium Foods
To help keep stress levels down, you can also eat magnesium-rich foods. Magnesium naturally combats stress hormones in the body, and stress hormones can throw off the way your body is supposed to function. Foods that are high in magnesium include avocados, raw almonds, cashews, dark leafy greens, pine nuts, chia seeds, bananas, and pumpkin seeds.
Dietary Change
It’s always a good idea to make a dietary change when there is a big shift or change in your lifestyle. Eliminating sugars, alcohol, salt, meat, dairy products, processed foods, refined sugars, or tobacco from your diet is a great place to start. Switching to a plant-based diet is ideal because those foods can provide you with essential vitamins and minerals that contribute to a healthy diet. Try eating bell peppers, mushrooms, garlic, strawberries, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, raw nuts & seeds, and herbal teas.
Flaxseed Oil
Flaxseed oil, which is believed to help reduce menopausal symptoms, contains healthy fatty acids. Flaxseed contains plant lignans, which are similar to estrogen, and they may cause estrogen levels to stabilize in menopausal women. You can also eat foods with antioxidants or high vitamin E content to help reduce hot flashes.
Wear Loose Clothing
It’s a good idea to wear loose clothing because tight clothing can make the hot flashes seem more intense. Hang up the form fitting clothes for a little while and start wearing more comfortable, stretchy, or airy clothing. At night, you may find it better to wear cotton pajamas because they can absorb the moisture from night sweats, if you have them.
