Get Rid Of Hot Flashes And Night Sweats

The discomforts of menopause plague many women as they age. Now, scientists at the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research in Oakland say that by adjusting your diet, you may reduce or eliminate menopausal symptoms.

The Women’s Health Initiative study of 17,473 women shows that women on a diet low in fat and high in whole grains, fruit and vegetables who have menopausal symptoms who are not taking hormone replacement therapy, and who lose weight (10 or more pounds or 10 or more percent of their baseline body weight) are more likely to reduce or eliminate hot flashes and night sweats after one year.

“While the mechanism is not completely understood, hot flashes and night sweats are thought to be caused by a complex interaction that involves fluctuating hormone levels, the hypothalamus region of the brain that regulates body temperature, brain chemicals and receptors, and the body’s blood vessels and sweat glands,” says researcher Candyce Kroenke.

“Since most women tend to gain weight with age, weight loss or weight gain prevention may offer a viable strategy to help eliminate hot flashes and night sweats associated with menopause,” says Bette Caan, the senior author of the study.