8 Foods That Reduce Hot Flashes

March 23, 2015

Hot flashes are the most common symptoms of menopause, which can hit you as early as your 30s. It can start with a sudden feeling of heat around your face and can cause redness and excessive sweating.

While menopause and hot flashes are natural events that your body goes through, experts suggest that what you eat can definitely keep the symptoms under control.

According to Romy Block, MD, an endocrinologist in Chicago and an assistant professor at the University of Chicago, ‘some women find relief from soy products which contain natural phytoestrogens.’

Here are eight foods that will help you eat your way out of hot flashes.

1. Soy: Though not all studies confirm this, soy helps in most cases of hot flashes. Having soy milk twice a day can reduce hot flashes by up to 26 percent, as it contains isoflavones, the plant hormones similar to estrogen. It also contains genistein and daidzein that help in curbing other menopausal symptoms too.

2. Flaxseeds: Some studies say that eating 2tbsp of flaxseed twice a day can cut your hot flashes by half. Flaxseeds contain phytoestrogen, a plant-based estrogen. It should be had in ground form or pressed into oil for best results.

3. Eggs: Vitamin B in eggs helps control the function of your adrenal gland, which in turn helps reduce hot flashes. It balances the estrogen and progesterone in your system, thus bringing down chances of a hot flash.

4. Fruits & Vegetables: Apples, bananas, broccoli and cabbage are rich in fiber and can help to completely remove hot flash traces.

5. Whole Grains: Whole grains like brown rice, barley and oats contain a high amount of fiber, which helps in eliminating toxins from the body. Fiber also helps in curbing food cravings, binge eating, aids digestion and keeps your colon healthy.

6. Low-Fat Yogurt: Low fat yogurt is rich in calcium, which reduces hot flashes by clearing out excess estrogen from the liver.

7. Walnuts: Walnuts are a good source of omega-3 fatty acids that regulate cellular functions in your body, thereby reducing hot flashes. Some other rich sources of Omega-3 fatty acids are salmon, tofu and shrimp.

8. Pineapples: Pineapples contain Vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant that helps reduce hot flashes. They protect your body’s cells and fight free radicals that cause aging and other health conditions. Vitamin C also reduces hormonal oxidative stress, which in turn reduces hot flashes.