Guest Author - Sharon Bejin

So there you are going about your day feeling nice and comfortable when suddenly your internal thermometer spikes off the chart. Chances are when this is happening you are not twenty, thin, and wearing a bikini at the beach. Most likely you are in your forties with a roll around your midsection suffering a menopausal hot flash. Visions of you in that two-piece swimsuit are a thing of the past.

Many women experience hot flashes during menopause. You suddenly feel like your body is burning up inside. Your body is reacting to a fluctuation in estrogen. While these flashes of heat last anywhere from a few seconds to a several minutes, at the time it's happening, it seems to go on forever. What makes this worse is that most likely when it is happening you are anywhere but at home and you can’t take off some clothing to bring you relief.

One suggestion would be for you to dress in layers so you can take off a piece or two of clothing when the hot flashes hit. Your co-workers will appreciate you not walking around in less than appropriate attire just so you can feel some relief! Some other things that might be helpful in reducing the intensity of your hot flashes are: changes in your diet, vitamins, exercise, reduce your stress, and Chinese medicines.

Making changes in your diet may help lesson the severity of hot flashes. Estrogen levels may be affected by caffeine, fats and spicy foods. Substitute your caffeine drinks with plenty of water. Eat foods low in fat and try eliminating foods that have a lot of spices in them. This may be a challenge to do, but may be worth the effort.

Reducing stress can help minimize hot flashes. Try exercise, yoga and deep breathing to eliminate some stressors in your life. You may want to consider making changes and eliminate things that are not working for you on a daily basis. Put your health first.

Chinese medicine has been known to reduce hot flashes. Acupuncture and herbal treatments of dong quai, ginseng, primrose oil, and licorice root can be helpful during menopause. Soy is also effective in regulating your internal thermometer. Research these estrogenic products before taking them to decide if they will work for you.

Taking a daily dose of vitamins is important, especially during menopause. Your body needs the A-Zs to help keep everything operating at optimal levels. Deprivation of these important vitamins and minerals will not help your body or the symptoms you are already experiencing during menopause.

Become more aware of what you are consuming. Write down what you are eating and drinking. This may help you make connections between what you are consuming and the intensity and duration of the hot flashes you are experiencing.