Hot flashes are associated with women approaching menopause, with studies showing that approximately 75 to 80 per cent of older women suffer from the condition. They are a characteristic symptom and are experienced as sudden random episodes of intense heat, flushing followed by sweating and feeling a bit chilly. Hot flashes vary in frequency and severity between women but usually last for only a few minutes.
The condition is known to disrupt daily routine and compromise one’s quality of life. During the menopause stage, women experience various hormonal changes which result in numerous clinical conditions such as weight gain, osteoporosis, emotional distress, anxiety, mood swings, depression, stress, fatigue, etc. In an article lead nutritionist at Elda Health, Sonali Kulkarni suggested, “It is crucial for women over 40 to be vigilant about their diet and eating patterns. Certain natural drinks are recommended which help to alleviate the condition and offer relief from these symptoms. Some of these drinks include hokum juice, palm fruit, sol kadhi, soy, buttermilk, or lassi, also some easy and low-cost preparations one could prepare are jaljeera, jeera water, sabja, fennel and coriander seed water along with tender coconut and near which is easily available all year round.”
She explained, “These foods are rich in vitamins and minerals. Moreover, they are especially rich in electrolyte content which balances your energy levels well and induces a cooling effect on the body. They also fulfill dietary fiber and calorie requirements and are the best-suited options for treating hot flashes. Menopause is inevitable but a unique experience for every woman and has to be managed individually. Healthy lifestyle choices, including a balanced diet and regular exercise, can help women to cope with this transition.”
Dr. Veena Aggarwal, MD at Medtalks, Trustee at Dr. KKs Heart Care Foundation of India, also said in the article, “Spicy foods, caffeine, smoking, drinking alcohol, stress, anxiety, hot weather etc. are some common triggers for hot flashes.”
She advised, “Try to identify your trigger/s and avoid them to prevent hot flashes or at least reduce their occurrence. Lose weight if you are overweight. Eat a healthy diet. Some home remedies such as buttermilk, coconut milk, soya, kokum juice, Ice apple (called Tadgola in Hindi) may also help. All these have a cooling effect and keep the body hydrated. By reducing body heat, they may provide relief from this distressing symptom.”
