How to Control Hot Flashes
A Rich Plant Estrogen Diet can Change the Symptoms of Menopause
Nov 30, 2008
Natural life transition in women occurs between the ages of 45-55. This is commonly called menopause or change of life. The symptoms are: hot flashes, mood swings, vaginal dryness, insomnia, stress, nervousness, fatigue, dizziness, heart palpitation and shortness of breath. The most common symptoms are hot flashes and night sweats.
Plant estrogens also known as phyto-estrogens are helpful to balance hormone levels in the body. Hormone replacement therapy which is synthetic estrogen is the common solution offered. There are no health destructive side effects in plant estrogens, but the synthetic estrogens promote a high risk of breast and ovarian cancers.
Hot Flashes Therapy
Hot Flashes occur when there is a sharp drop in the estrogen level, and if the ovaries are damaged or removed they are more severe. Other causes of hot flashes are: hot weather, all drugs, alcohol, stress and large meals eaten too quickly. Since menopausal hot flashes occur due to a low production of hormone in the body, that type can be prevented by boosting the hormone level. More plant food estrogen and regular moderate exercise can help restore more normal hormonal levels.
Deep breathing relaxes both mind and body and that reduces hot flashes and relieves stress. A good dietary habit is imperative because hormones are formed from the nutrients in foods, and if those nutrients are missing, there will be hormonal imbalances or deficiencies. Blood sugar fluctuation is clearly a big factor in hot flashes. High refined sugar intake aggravates the body and stresses the adrenal gland and pancreas at a time when both functions need to be in good working order. Refined sugars significantly slow down the transport rate of the beneficial hormonal chemicals. This also weakens the adrenal gland so that estrogen is not effectively converted.
Menopause Fighting Foods
The most powerful estrogen containing food is soybean because it is rich in isoflavones which is plant estrogen. Many common foods, herbs and spices contain natural phyto-hormones that help the body produce its own natural estrogen and progesterone. They are: fatty fish such as salmon, sardines, mackerel, herring and tuna. Extra virgin olive oil, flaxseeds, nuts, garlic, soybeans, legumes, asparagus, red beans, green beans, French beans, brown rice, whole wheat, wild yams, apples, cherries, pineapple, berries, oats, carrots, potatoes, rape seed, rye, parsley, sage, sesame seeds, red clover, ginger, basil, fennel, cinnamon, alfalfa and anise. These estrogenic foods are also great contributors in the prevention of osteoporosis, heart disease and breast cancer.
Obesity and Menopause
Overweight women produce estrogen in the fatty tissues as well as the ovaries. This causes an over abundance of circulating estrogen that increases the risk of breast and ovarian cancers. Slim women could have more menopausal symptoms, but less risk of cancer while it’s the opposite of overweight women. When estrogen decreases substantially, changes occur in the functions and appearances of the breast, vagina, bones, hair, skin, heart and the central nervous system.
Long term nutritional deficiencies leave the body unprepared for the stress of menopause. A poor diet and lack of exercise and emotional stress can exhaust the adrenals. Adrenals responses to stress cause menopausal symptoms. Vitamins A, B-complex, C, E, Magnesium, Phosphorus, potassium and bioflavonoid are lost during a stress period. A body that is under stress often needs nutritional supplements. A body that is well nourished can fight the menopause symptoms better without therapy.
Menopausal symptoms are few or non-existent in some cultures like Orientals, because of their estrogen rich diets.
References: British Medical Journal, October 1990, Oestrogenic Effects of Plant Foods in Postmenopausal Women, Gisela Wilcox.
Alternative Medicine, The Definitive Guide, Puyallup, WA 1993.
