Hot Flushes: What to avoid

What triggers menopause sweating?

Useful to know which everyday staples may trigger your menopausal hot flushes or night sweats.

Foods to avoid in your diet to help stop hot flushes:

• Refined sugar and carbohydrates produce heat when processed by the body, contributing to hot flushes. Found in most of your favourite foods: milk chocolate, cakes, biscuits, white bread, pasta, and rice. Step away from the biscuit tin and switch to good carbohydrates such as wholemeal bread, pasta, and brown rice. Eat 70% (or above) dark chocolate, sparingly!

• Spices will make you hot. So, avoid where you can. Stick to turmeric, sage and fennel, which may relieve hot flushes.

• Caffeine and fizzy drinks are not your friends, containing stimulants that cause blood vessels to dilate, increasing blood flow to the skin and a potential hot flush.

Don’t light up

Smokers are more likely to have hot flushes, which intensify as the nicotine hits the central nervous system. Reduced lung capacity and function will make it more difficult to take deep, slow calming breaths. Get help from your GP if you are finding it difficult to give up. 

What about alcohol and hot flushes? 

Alcohol and menopause don’t mix. That tempting glass of wine can raise overall body temperature, triggering or adding to the severity of hot flushes and night sweats. So, make a choice, a refreshing, relaxing tipple or a disturbed night of uncomfortable sweating?