Whether you’re struggling with hot flashes due to menopause or due to another medical issue, you know how uncomfortable and irritating they can be. There are ways that you can help to prevent hot flashes, however, and one of them is by changing your diet. Here are a few foods that you should avoid in order to prevent hot flashes.
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Fatty meats. Meats like bacon or brisket can cause you to gain weight during menopause, but because they also take longer to digest, they can also cause your body to work overtime during sleep. This extra energy often causes you to stay up at night and leads to hot flashes.
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Spicy foods. Have you ever started to sweat while eating curry or hot wings? Then you can imagine what these types of spicy foods do for hot flashes! Avoid them if you want to sleep cool and dry.
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Desserts, soft drinks and other sugars cause your blood sugar to spike, which could lead to uncomfortable hot flashes (not to mention unhealthy weight gain).
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Refined carbohydrates. Things like bread, pasta and cake are full of refined carbs, which contributes to fatigue and hot flashes.
- Aside from the heat that comes along with most caffeinated beverages, the side effects of caffeine also cause hot flashes and night sweats.
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Alcohol. That glass of wine before bed could be the reason you’re suffering from hot flashes. Try cutting out alcohol or at least limiting it to one glass per day to avoid making your hot flashes worse.
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Soups and hot foods. Just like spicy foods, foods that are hot in temperature can make you feel hotter — and lead to hot flashes. Try avoiding soups, stews and other hot meals if you’re struggling with hot flashes, and be sure to avoid hot beverages like teas and coffee.
