Best & Worst Foods for Menopause Symptoms

Source: Red Hot Mamas via Ode Magazine

INSOMNIA AND HEADACHES

Studies suggest that eating carbs can increase the release of tryptophan, an amino acid that helps the brain manufacture serotonin, which helps people fall asleep.

SAY YES TO:

Eating a piece of toasted whole grain bread or a small portion of another carbohydrate before going to bed.
Other foods that contain tryptophan are turkey, soy, cod, egg whites and warm milk.
Also, omega-3 fatty acids, found in fish such as salmon, trout and tuna, play a role in sleep induction.
And don’t forget cherries. They contain melatonin, a substance found in the body, which helps regulate sleep.

SAY NO TO:

Large meals. When you eat a large meal, digestion brings blood into the abdomen, raises body temperature and tells the hypothalamus in the brain to send a signal that causes hot flashes. Eating smaller meals can help reduce the number of hot flashes.
Caffeine. Coffee, tea, colas and dark chocolate contain caffeine. They may trigger hot flashes and affect your sleep. So drink water and avoid caffeine, especially in the late afternoon and at night.
Alcohol. Alcohol can increase the hot flashes and affect sleep, mood and weight. Heavy use can lead to osteoporosis because alcohol prevents cells from building new bone. Limit yourself to no more than one drink a day.

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Yasmeen E.

6:25AM PDT on May 16, 2013

thanks

May 16
send a green star

Alicia N.

8:32AM PDT on May 10, 2013

I know that dark (organic) chocolate is good for our health but,
in the article was mentioned that because dark chocolate containing
caffeine may trigger hot flashes, it may be bad, and later on was
mentioned that chocolate is good ............ mmmmmm

so, chocolate is good or bad for hot flashes, come again?

the rest of the list is just super cool- thanks

May 10
send a green star

Robert O.

1:04AM PDT on Mar 26, 2013

Interesting information to know. Thank you.

March 26
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Nancy W.

3:01PM PDT on Mar 15, 2013

Thanks for the info as I gather something I wasn't aware of. SOme things I know the womb space is a wise powerful birthing place, it benefits the world and ourselves to use our womb spaces for prayer and to check in to gain knowledge and to answer questions. Let's not waste our natural gifts and put them to good use. A couple things, One is to not cool the body down but to allow the heat and to even dare to increase it. This helps in increasing bone density and health because the body no longer has the cleansing abilities of releasing the blood once a month, another thing that it is a powerful energetic to prayers and birthing intent just like a sweatlodge. So discomfort aside allowing heat is beneficial.

March 15
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Dale O.

8:22AM PDT on Jul 31, 2012

Since chocolate is one of the major food groups in itself, will never stop nibbling on this delight, love my tea and although herbal is fine and tend to drink a lot of ginger tea there are many times when black tea is the only tea! Many useful suggestions and tasty foods!