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 […]
The Highly Sensitive Person & the Menopause Transition
With diminishing estrogen, or rather, the roller coaster of its fluctuating levels during perimenopause, anything can happen, and not just to the hormonally targeted female organs and tissues. While changing menstrual patterns and flows are predictable, the most common complaints are hot flashes, insomnia, vaginal dryness, and mood changes, the latter referring to depression (new, […]
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 […]
Gluten Intolerance? Or Something Else in Wheat?
Part 5 in the Food Sensitivity series Ever wonder what all the fuss is about with gluten? Until challenged by lectins, gluten has been the fashionable food to avoid. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye and high gluten wheat flour is valued for its stretchy characteristics and ability to help bread […]
CHEESECAKE MINIS
The Hot Flash DietTM recipe for April 2024 is just in time for Passover, but is great year-round. The main components are “cool” dairy products according to Traditional Chinese Medicine. The fresh fruits suggested below to top the cheesecake minis all have “cold” to “cool” thermal properties. This recipe is adapted from the Mini Cheesecake […]
GOT HOT FLASHES?
Try “Cooler” Meals Based on Traditional Chinese Medicine Hot flashes and night sweats are very common in women undergoing the menopause transition. In fact, about 80% of these women experience the aforementioned vasomotor symptoms either during perimenopause, after menopause, or in both phases. For most, flushing ceases after a few years, but for the latter […]
Food Sensitivity: Histamines
(Part 4 of the Food Sensitivity series) Did you ever lay down at night and notice a new runny congested nose, itching, scratchy throat, or vague gastrointestinal (GI) discomfort? Maybe it was something you ate—food and drink containing histamines. For some people, especially foodies, edible sources of histamines add up to cause these and other […]
JEWELED RICE
The Hot Flash DietTM recipe for March is Jeweled Rice. It is an over-simplified, unspiced version of a Persian rice. It omits the many “warm” spices (according to Traditional Chinese Medicine) that are classically added and the complicated steps for the crunchy base, so this jeweled rice recipe is quick, pretty, and tasty. The purple onion […]
Food Sensitivities: Saponins
(Part 3 of the Food Sensitivity Series) Ever feel like your intestines have been pulled out, scrubbed, and hung out to dry? Eating large quantities of foods and herbs containing compounds called saponins (pronounced SAP-uh-nins) can cause this assault on your gastrointestinal (GI) system. Saponins derive their name from the Latin word for soap and […]