With diminishing estrogen, or rather, the roller coaster of its erratic, fluctuating levels during perimenopause, anything can happen, and not just to the targeted female organs. Changing menstrual patterns and flows are expected, but the most common complaints are hot flashes, insomnia, vaginal dryness, and mood changes, the latter referring to depression (new, reappearance, or […]
THE RIGHT STUFF: Choosing Vaginal Lubricants & Moisturizers
Experiencing hot flashes during the menopause transition is bad enough, but coincidental vaginal dryness removes the spontaneity from sex, predisposes to urinary issues, causes vaginal itching, and, for some, makes it uncomfortable to sit on our fannies. As estrogen diminishes during perimenopause, the vaginal lining thins, and its walls lose their folds. These changes were […]
PUT OUT THE FIRE: Extinguishing Hot Flashes
Have you noticed certain foods seem to be linked to hot flashes? Of course, you have. Round up the usual suspects—red wine, liquor, spicy foods. Do you also wonder if there are foods that might tame those devilish hot flashes instead? There are, but it’s not common knowledge. While you avoid the above hot flash […]
CHILLING OUT HOT FLASHES WITH “COLD” FOODS
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), each food (and herb) has a unique flavor profile (salty, sweet, sour, bitter, and pungent/spicy) and a specific thermal energy (“hot”, “warm,” “neutral,” “cool,” or “cold”). These characteristics determine how each ingredient or herb might be used therapeutically or combined with others in cooking to produce a balanced dish. For […]
JEWELED RICE
The Hot Flash DietTM recipe for March 2025 is an easy-to-make, minimally spiced version of Persian wedding rice. For the purposes of keeping hot flashes at bay, the recipe omits the many “warm” or “hot” spices that are classically added. It also leaves out the complicated steps for a crunchy base which are time-consuming. Despite […]
COFFEE JUMPSTARTS YOUR DAY & YOUR HOT FLASHES
“I would rather suffer with coffee than be senseless.” ~Napoleon Bonaparte I call coffee the “elixir of life” since it reverses the zombiedom of my mornings. I love its taste, smell, and energy I receive. Yet for myself and many women, caffeine sensitivity can gradually develop over time with lesser amounts needed to energize us and make […]
COMFORTING BARLEY SIDE DISH
The Hot Flash DietTM for February is a hearty barley dish perfect for the dead of winter. It is a great side, but if you add a small amount of meat, cheese, or beans to the mixture, it could be a main dish. Besides the mirepoix mix of celery, onions, and carrots, add any extra […]
Women’s Heart Attacks Can Be Different from Men’s
(February is American Heart Month) When most people think of February, they think of Valentine’s Day, love, and heart-shaped gifts. February is also American Heart Month, designed to increase awareness of heart disease, the #1 killer of both men and women in the US and globally! Heart disease encompasses several cardiac conditions, but coronary artery […]
Hearty Italian Fish Chowder
The Hot Flash DietTM recipe for December 2024 has a festive feel despite its simple preparation. It is especially good when your fish market sells mix of fish ends or if you’ve found fish lingering in the freezer a bit long. You can substitute canned clams for a red clam chowder instead. According to TCM, […]