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The Bizarre Link Between Oreos and Hot Flashes

The AHA! Team — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 06:05:32 +0000

Al Sears, MD, CNS – If you’ve ever eaten an Oreo, you’ve probably noticed how hard it was to eat just one. Don’t worry, it’s not just you! Research has found that Oreos are more addictive than cocaine.[1] A big reason for that is the fact that the cookies are loaded with the artificial sweetener high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS). A Canadian study found that HFCS can cause behavioral reactions similar to those produced by common street drugs.[2] Other research shows that HFCS and cocaine stimulate the same brain circuits. I know what you’re probably thinking… What does all this have to do with hot flashes? Let me explain. As you probably know, HFCS is in a lot of foods that make up the standard American diet. It’s a big part of the reason we have an obesity epidemic in our country. But HFCS does more than make you gain weight. It also causes fat to build up in your liver. When that happens, you can end up with a condition called fatty liver disease. Over the last 10 to 15 years, I’ve seen a sharp increase in the number of patients with fatty liver disease at my clinic – in both men and women. But for women, the symptoms of fatty liver disease can look a lot like menopause. Symptoms like night sweats, exhaustion, extra weight around the abdomen… and hot flashes. That’s why so many mainstream doctors miss this diagnosis. They write the symptoms off as “women’s problems.” The truth is, you could have fatty liver disease and not even know it. Liver diseases are one of the fastest-growing health epidemics in the world. According to a new study, today up to 50% of Americans suffer from nonalcoholic liver disease (NAFLD) – including children as young as 2 years old.[3] And HFCS is a big contributor. You see, HFCS isn’t like other sugars. Most of it goes straight to your liver instead of going into your muscles and tissues for energy. It promotes the formation of new fat molecules. It triggers your liver cells to store this fat where it doesn’t belong. At the same time, it blocks the breakdown of old fats. A study from the University of Florida found patients with fatty liver disease ate two to three times more high fructose corn syrup.[4] And just like alcohol, this cheap fructose is addictive. Once you start eating it, you crave even more sweets. Corn syrup floods your bloodstream, overwhelming your liver’s processing capacity. Your liver becomes inflamed and develops into NAFLD. 3 Simple Tips to Improve Your Liver Health Mainstream medicine has no treatments for this condition. However, I help my patients treat fatty liver disease with three simple, natural solutions. Supplement with DHA. Researchers found that supplementing with the omega-3 fatty acid DHA stops fatty liver disease in its tracks. In the study, they fed animals a Western-style diet that leads to obesity. Then they gave them DHA. The team found that DHA blocked the progression of the worst form of fatty liver disease – even though the animals continued to eat the same dangerous diet.[5] In a human study, volunteers taking 1,000 mg per day of omega-3s decreased serum markers of liver cell damage and levels of triglyceride fats.[6] You see, DHA is anti-inflammatory. It helps to heal liver cell membranes. DHA also suppresses the production of new liver fat cells and stimulates the burning of fat cells. You can get DHA from grass-fed meats and organs. But it’s almost impossible to get enough from your diet. I advise my patients to supplement with between 600 mg and 1,000 of DHA daily from a combination of squid oil and krill oil. Take the liver herb. Milk thistle is also known as the “liver herb.” It has an active compound called silymarin. In a placebo-controlled study of 100 patients, silymarin promoted a significant decline in liver enzyme markers. That indicated a reversal of NAFLD with no serious side effects.[7] Use my favorite supplement. A study in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition proved that CoQ10 can also treat NAFLD.[8] The trial included 41 people with mild to moderate NAFLD. Researchers gave half the patients 100 mg of CoQ10 every day. The other half got a placebo. After 12 weeks, all signs of NAFLD were lower in the CoQ10 group. Four of the patients on CoQ10 even returned to normal liver function. You can get CoQ10 from grass-fed organ meat and beef, game, and wild-caught fatty fish. But again, it’s hard to get all you need from diet alone. Normally, I recommend 50 mg daily. But to treat NAFLD, I suggest taking 100 to 300 mg per day of the ubiquinol form of CoQ10. Divide it into two doses. References [1] Connecticut College News, October 15, 2013 [2] Addiction to unhealthy foods could help explain the global obesity epidemic. EurekAlert! [3] Cha A. “Fatty liver disease was a disease of the old. Then kids started getting sick.” https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/interactive/2023/nonalcoholic-fatty-liver-disease-kids/. [4] Lyssoiotis C, Cantley. “F stands for fructose and fat.” Nature. 2013;502:181-182. [5] https://synergies.oregonstate.edu/2017/dha-offers-hope-to-stop-deadly-march-toward-cirrhosis-liver-cancer/ [6] Capanni M, et al. “Prolonged n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation ameliorates hepatic steatosis in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: a pilot study.” Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2006 Apr 15;23(8):1143-51. [7] Hashemi et al. “A placebo-controlled trial of silymarin in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.” Hepatitis Monthly. 2011;9(4):265-270. [8] Farnaz Farsi et al. “Functions of Coenzyme Q10 Supplementation on liver enzymes, markers of systemic inflammation, and adipokines in patients affected by nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial.” J Am Coll Nutr. 2016;35(4):346-353 To read the original article click here.

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Reduce Hot Flashes with THIS Dietary Intervention

AHA Publisher — Mon, 14 Nov 2022 07:15:19 +0000

News Staff via NaturalHealth365 – Menopause is a natural part of getting older, signaling the end of a woman’s menstrual cycle. It usually starts when a woman is in her 40’s or 50’s. Unfortunately, menopause can have several uncomfortable side effects, including hot flashes, sleep problems, low energy, and emotional symptoms. However, a recent study indicates that a simple dietary change may significantly reduce aggravating hot flashes. Could This Straightforward Dietary Change Ease Menopausal Hot Flashes? What if you could reduce hot flashes just by changing your diet? A recent study, led by Dr. Neal Barnard and published in Menopause: The Journal of the North American Menopause Society, sought to find out. The trial was the Women’s Study for the Alleviation of Vasomotor Symptoms. To assess the link between diet and hot flashes, researchers evaluated postmenopausal women over a 12-week trial period. Some study participants implemented a vegan diet low in fats and a half cup of soybeans daily, while the control group did not change their diets. All participants then recorded the severity and frequency of hot flash symptoms over the course of the study. The group that consumed a vegan, plant-based diet rich in soy experienced a whopping 88% reduction in their hot flashes. Also, those eating a plant-based diet lost an average of 8 pounds and reported improved quality of life. These results indicate that hot flashes can be reduced by simply cutting out toxic animal foods, lowering fat intake, and adding soy to the diet. Of course, we would encourage our readers to eat only non-GMO soy products. Hormone Replacement or Diet Changes? Hormone replacement therapy, or HRT, has long been the treatment of choice for perimenopause symptoms. This is because many symptoms of menopause stem from changes within the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis and disrupted hormone levels. However, HRT can cause its own set of unwanted side effects, if done incorrectly. The key here is to find a qualified healthcare provider to help you with the process to avoid health issues. If menopause symptoms can be mitigated through healthy diet changes, these dangerous side effects can be avoided. And besides possibly reducing hot flashes, plant-based diets have been shown to reduce depression and other chronic health issues. Thus, the new dietary study presents an exciting new direction for researchers to investigate further. Ways to Ease Menopause Symptoms Naturally Changing to a low (healthy) fat, plant-based diet and eating more soy might help reduce your hot flashes. But there are also other ways to ease menopause symptoms without pharmaceuticals. Black cohosh supplements, adequate sleep, regular exercise, and stress reduction practices like yoga can all help. There’s a possibility that plant phytoestrogens could improve menopause symptoms. Phytoestrogens are naturally occurring estrogens in several foods, including flax, soybeans, and legumes. Acupuncture and hypnosis are two more therapies that may benefit women in menopause. Menopause is an important and natural phase of life. However, if you’re dealing with uncomfortable menopause symptoms, it’s worth looking into dietary changes and complementary therapies to help ease the transition. Sources for this article include: Medicalnewstoday.com Mayoclinic.org Clinicaltrials.gov To read the original article click here.

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Plant-Based Diet Rich in Soy Reduces Troubling Menopause Symptoms by 84%

AHA Publisher — Fri, 16 Jul 2021 07:00:49 +0000

Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine via News-Medical – A new study, published by the North American Menopause Society in the journal Menopause, found a plant-based diet rich in soy reduces moderate-to-severe hot flashes by 84%, from nearly five per day to fewer than one per day. During the 12-week study, nearly 60% of women became totally free of moderate-to-severe hot flashes. Overall hot flashes (including mild ones) decreased by 79%. The study, called the WAVS trial–the Women’s Study for the Alleviation of Vasomotor Symptoms-shows that diet changes can be much more powerful for treating hot flashes than scientists had thought. Vasomotor symptoms refer to night sweats, hot flashes, and flushes. The study used no hormone medications or extracts. Instead, the research team tested a combination of a low-fat plant-based diet plus 1/2 cup of ordinary soybeans added to a salad or soup each day. “This is a game changer for women aged 45 and over, most of whom we now know can get prompt relief from the most severe and troubling menopause symptoms without drugs,” says lead researcher Neal Barnard, MD, president of the Physicians Committee and adjunct professor at the George Washington University School of Medicine. As many as 80% of postmenopausal women suffer from hot flashes. Heat wells up from the chest, causing flushing, sweating, and chills. At night, hot flashes interfere with sleep. Estrogen-based medications were once routinely used to treat hot flashes but have been shown to increase the risk of breast cancer and other serious problems. Isoflavoneextracts from soybeans work only modestly, leaving women and their doctors with few effective options. Study Details Postmenopausal women reporting two or more hot flashes per day were randomly assigned to either an intervention group–consisting of a low-fat, vegan diet, including half a cup of cooked soybeans daily–or to a control group that made no diet changes for 12 weeks. Frequency and severity of hot flashes were recorded using a mobile application, and vasomotor, psychosocial, physical, and sexual symptoms were assessed using the Menopause Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (MENQOL). Each participant was given a digital self-calibrating scale to track body weight day by day, a mobile app to track hot flashes in real time, and an Instant Pot to prepare soybeans at home. Each week, the group got together with the research team via Zoom. “Previous studies have shown that soy could be beneficial, so we decided to put a diet change to the test. We believe that the combination is what is important. By the end of the study, the majority of women on a plant-based diet rich in soy reported that they no longer experienced moderate-to-extreme hot flashes at all and that they experienced significant improvements in their quality of life.” Hana Kahleova, MD, PhD, study author, director of clinical research for the Physicians Committee Key Findings Total hot flashes decreased by 79% and moderate-to-severe hot flashes decreased by 84% in the intervention group. At the study’s conclusion, 59% of intervention-group participants reported becoming free of moderate and severe hot flashes. There was no change in this variable in the control group. In previous randomized trials, soy products have been shown to modestly reduce the frequency of hot flashes. The researchers theorize that the effect may be a result of soy products containing isoflavones, which can be metabolized by gut bacteria into equol–a nonsteroidal compound that has been shown in some studies to reduce the incidence and severity of hot flashes. Previous studies have also shown that those following vegetarian or vegan diets produce higher levels of equol. The new study showed a more robust response, using the combination of a plant-based diet plus soy. Many study participants also reported improvements in sexual symptoms, mood, and overall energy. “This was basically a lifesaver for me,” said one study participant. “I’ve got my quality of life back.” Another said, “I am sleeping better, and my hot flashes diminished tremendously.” Several participants also noticed significant weight loss and better digestion. “Before you jump to any kind of medication, I would try this route, because it’s easy,” a study participant said. “Anybody can do it.” The study was based on the new approach to menopausal symptoms described by Dr. Barnard in his book Your Body in Balance. After the book was released in 2020, a reader contacted Dr. Barnard to let him know that his method eliminated her hot flashes within five days. Rather than using isoflavone extracts or soy foods such as soy milk or tofu, she used whole soybeans. To read the original article click here.

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7 Tips to Enjoy Your Best Health During Menopause

AHA Publisher — Thu, 17 Sep 2020 07:00:01 +0000

Dr. Don Colbert – Did you know menopause can begin in your 40s, 50s, or 60s? While the average age is 51-52 years, many women begin experiencing symptoms like emotional changes, skin changes, hot flashes, fatigue, difficulty sleeping and more much earlier. In addition, many women find that it becomes difficult to maintain healthy weight and overall good health during menopause. If this describes you or a loved one, there are many healthy steps you can take to achieve your weight and health goals during menopause. Here are our top 7 tips. What is Menopause? Menopause is defined as the point in time 12 months after a woman’s last period. In the months before this 12-month-transition and during it, women experience many changes. This time period is often referred to as peri-menopause, and it’s the body’s transition to no longer being able to bear children. The menopausal transition can last 7-14 years, from pre-menopause to peri-menopause to menopause. Pre-menopause often begins around age 45, with an average age of 51-52 years for menopause. But, it can also be triggered by a hysterectomy or surgical removal of the ovaries, since these organs have a big influence on hormone production. What’s more, women often go through a lot of emotional and social changes at this time as well. Their children may be leaving home or becoming adults, work responsibilities can change, or they may become caring for their own elderly parents. It’s important to consider the whole-body effects of menopause, including mental, physical, social, and emotional health. What Causes Negative Symptoms During Menopause? The challenging symptoms associated with menopause are mostly due to hormone changes. These changes include a decreased production of estrogen and progesterone (made in the ovaries), and an increased production of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) increase. The decrease in estrogen is thought to cause most of the symptoms of menopause. Estrogen, or more specifically estradiol (E2), is secreted from the follicles of a woman’s ovaries. Since eggs are no longer being released from the ovaries, follicles no longer develop, and E2 declines (1). This decline can be erratic and devastating to some. In fact, many women first experience a significant increase in E2 in their mid-40s and then an abrupt drop. Others have more of steady decline. The overall E2 decline can cause: Irregular periods Vaginal dryness Hot flashes Chills Night sweats Sleep problems Mood changes Weight gain and slowed metabolism Thinning hair and dry skin Loss of breast fullness Changes in labido In addition, many women experience insulin resistance (which can make fat loss difficult), increases in cortisol, and decreases in bone density during and after menopause. 7 Ways to Enjoy Your Best Health During Menopause While this may all sound quite dire, it doesn’t have to be. You can take steps to enjoy your best health during menopause. In fact, some women thrive and feel wonderful as they go through this life phase transition. It’s not without challenges, but they can be met with healthy strategies. Here are our 7 ways to enjoy your best health during menopause. 1. START WITH SPIRITUAL HEALTH DURING MENOPAUSE It all begins with your spirit. As you enter, go through, or even pass menopause, keep your focus on God and His promises. Change can be tough, but our God does not change. His love for you and steadfastness lasts from everlasting to everlasting. Even through menopause, if God is for you, who can be against you? Don’t let negative thoughts, self-doubt, self-criticism, or stress take control. God can help you conquer all of this. 2. AIM FOR A HEALTHY WEIGHT DURING MENOPAUSE Next, hit one of the toughest parts of menopause head-on. Since menopause can be associated with rises in cortisol and insulin resistance, it can be a very challenging time to obtain or maintain a healthy weight. These changes even affect how and where fat is deposited in the body (2). But, there is certainly a lot of hope for a healthy weight with the right eating lifestyle. To aim for a healthy weight during menopause, start by reducing carbohydrates. When you vastly reduce carbohydrates and enter ketosis, your body can improve insulin sensitivity, fat loss, and overall health during menopause. In fact, a study in over 88,000 women reported that a low-carb diet was associated with a decreased risk of postmenopausal weight gain, while a higher-carb low-fat diet increased risk of weight gain among participants (3). What’s more, intermittent fasting, fasting in general, healthy detox and cleanses can have a huge impact during menopause. To get started with your own ketogenic and fasting journey, try: Dr. Colbert’s Keto Zone Diet Book 21 Day Detox Challenge 3. CONSIDER HEALTHY HORMONE LEVELS DURING MENOPAUSE Again, the majority of symptoms during menopause come down to hormonal changes, and the biggest change occurs with estrogen. But, it’s not just about the level of estrogen, but estrogen’s metabolism and balance in relation to other hormones during menopause. Some women experience estrogen dominance (elevated estrogen relative to other hormones) and others experience loss of testosterone and progesterone. There is a natural way to help balance your estrogen changes, no matter it’s level. Diindolylmethane (DIM) is a natural compound, found in cruciferous vegetables, that alters the metabolism of estrogen in order to help the body balance hormones. DIM works specifically by converting “bad estrogens,” into good estrogen metabolites. Bad estrogens are those that cause most pre-menstrual and menopause symptoms including fat gain, cramping, acne, low energy, and more. They are also found in higher levels in those with breast cancer. Good estrogens promote leaner bodies with more muscle, high-quality collagen in connective tissues, healthy bone density, and good cholesterol levels. DIM encourages estrogens to metabolize to the beneficial forms while deterring negative forms. If you are interested in adding DIM to your supplement regimen, Hormone Zone is a balanced, natural supplement complex that contains DIM. 4. GUARD YOUR BONES DURING MENOPAUSE Due to changes in hormones, bone density also becomes a risk factor for women during menopause and after. Instead, of just hoping for better bone health, though, you can take steps to fortify your bones with bone-building foods and supplements. Great food choices include protein foods and meats, eggs, nuts, green beans, fish (including small bones), plain yogurt, and more. In addition, it’s important for menopausal women to get enough Vitamin K2, or menaquinone. This vitamin is found in animal foods and fermented foods. Unlike the more familiar vitamin K1, K2 is often deficient in adults. It’s often overlooked as an important nutrient, but it’s becoming clear that K2 has many specific, important functions in the body. Vitamin K2 is extremely important for bone health, especially in post-menopausal women. Supplementing vitamin K2 and vitamin D together may reduce spinal fractures, hip fractures, and osteoporosis. Further, vitamin K2 supports good dental health from infancy into advanced age. To get enough K2 every day, use Hormone Zone, a natural supplement that support women’s health. 5. BUILD MUSCLE DURING MENOPAUSE At the start of the menopause transition, a woman’s rate of fat gain doubles and her lean muscle mass declines. This is a double whammy, and it’s again related to hormone changes! It’s imperative for women to double-down on gaining muscle rather than losing it. To increase muscle gains, stay active, and use resistance training. You can do so by adding inclines (like hills) when you walk or hike, engaging in a weight-class at a local gym, or using at-home resistance bands and online workout options. More muscle will support healthy metabolism, bone health, healthy blood sugars, and insulin sensitivity. 6. MENTAL HEALTH & STRESS DURING MENOPAUSE Unfortunately, there is also a link between menopause and increased risk of depression (4). The physical and emotional changes associated with menopause can certainly take a toll on mental health. It’s crucial that women take time for themselves every day during this time (and throughout life) to engage in activities that support their mental health. These can include: Prayer Time with loved ones and friends Self-care Counseling, if needed Journaling and Gratitude Hobbies and fun activities Stress Relief through time outdoors, etc. In addition, we’ve posted many strategies to reduce stress and cortisol each day. Along with these tips, we also have a wonderful adaptogen supplement that supports healthy cortisol levels and balance: Divine Health’s Living Serene 3. It can make a world of difference! 7. GOALS & OPTIMISM DURING MENOPAUSE Lastly, menopause can be a time of new life! You can set goals and head into your future with optimism, if you so choose. In fact, optimism is literally a fountain of youth. It’s associated with longer and happier life! And best of all, it can be learned. In fact, while studies show that approximately 25% of optimism is genetic (5), we can learn and practice the other 75% through with prayer, meditation, journaling, and gratitude (6). In addition, the more you put the other 6 healthy habits into practice, the more optimistic you’ll likely feel, which completes a wonderful cycle for your best health during menopause (7). You can do it! Bottom Line Menopause if full of transition and chance, and much of it is tough. However, the power is in your hands. You can choose to care for yourself spiritually, physically, mentally, and emotionally. You can practice optimism and tap into one of the most powerful fountains of youth! In addition, we have products that can help you enjoy your best health during menopause. These include Dr. Colbert’s Keto Zone Diet Book 21 Day Detox Challenge Hormone Zone Divine Health’s Living Serene 3 You have the tools and the power. Look at each day, through menopause and after, with hope and joy! To read the original article click here. For more articles from Dr. Colbert click here.

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Natural Help for Hot Flashes

AHA Publisher — Thu, 18 Jun 2020 07:00:45 +0000

Dr. Don Colbert – This time of year, almost everyone’s hot. But for some women, the hot flashes and night sweats associated with perimenopause and menopause are just too much heat. They disrupt sleep and can make you feel miserable. But, what can you do? We have some natural help for hot flashes. Here’s what they are, why women get them, and what you can do starting today. What Are Hot Flashes and Why Might You Need Help for Hot Flashes? Hot flashes an overheating response by the body that is sudden and exaggerated. The nerve centers in the brain are normally great at keeping internal body temperature within strict limits and have methods for helping our body when they get too hot or cold. In the case of hot flashes, the brain senses the sudden heat, increases the rate of blood flow to the surface of the skin, causes the skin to redden or flush, and increases the sweat-response. This is one thing when you’re out for a run on a summer day, but quite uncomfortable when you’re trying to sleep. For women, hot flashes can really impact their lives and affect quality. If it causes a lack of sleep over the years, it can lead to the risk of other health issues such as weight gain, depression, and more. What Causes Hot Flashes? Although experts don’t know an absolute sure reason why women experience hot flashes, it’s clear that sex hormones play a role. Most hot flashes occur in the few years before menopause (premenopause) and during menopause. However, some younger women also report having hot flashes at much earlier ages, typically in the days leading to menstruation. Many studies have looked at the role estrogen may play with hot flashes. One animal study found that when estrogen levels are reduced, the nerve centers that regulate body temperatures in the brain actually become deformed and mutated. They actually respond to norma temperatures as if they are too high, causing the sweating and flushing (1). Other studies have found similar results, that a drop in estrogen may damage nerve centers and the body may respond to normal temperatures with abnormal exaggerating cooling and sudden sweats and flushes (2). Unfortunately, this means it’s not just about the environmental temperature, but the body’s responses to “regular” temperatures. How Common Are Hot Flashes? Up to 85% of menopausal women report experiencing hot flashes (3). It’s also likely that 55% of women experience symptoms many years before other indications of menopause. Another analysis from the Penn Ovarian Aging Study shows that an estimated 80% of American women experience moderate to severe hot flashes and another 17% experience mild hot flashes (4). Based on the information from an analysis of the Melbourne Women’s Health Project, the duration of hot flash symptoms lasts about 5.2 years on average (this study included 438 women)11 (5) while a meta-analysis of 35,445 women taken from 10 different studies confirmed a 4-year duration of hot flashes, getting more extreme as a woman nears menopause (6). Of the 4 types of menopausal symptoms, which include vasomotor symptoms (including hot flashes), vaginal dryness/dyspareunia, and difficulty sleeping/insomnia. and mood changes, hot flashes are the most commonly reported. Natural Lifestyle Help for Hot Flashes Identify Triggers and Avoid Them There are common triggers for many women’s hot flashes, and you may be able to identify and avoid your own. These include: warm weather (make sure your home/room is cool in the evening an night) stress spicy or hot foods and beverages alcohol You may find that you don’t need to avoid the trigger entirely, but just reduce it or learn how to mitigate its effects. Lose Weight if Needed Obesity and being overweight may actually increase the intensity and frequency of hot flashes. Losing weight before menopause can help. What’s more, many women find it much tougher to lose body fat during and after menopause, so it’s best to go into it at a healthy body weight if possible. Need help with weight loss. Here’s more info. Hydrate Well Throughout Each Day with Cold Water Our bodies have an effective way of cooling us off internally, but they require adequate hydration. Starting in the morning and throughout the day, consider drinking ice-cold water. You may also find that a cool or cold shower before bed helps. What’s more, both of these cold-water habits can help you lose fat! Stop Smoking if Needed Smoking may speed up the onset of menopause and increase the severity of symptoms, especially hot flashes. Keep a Cool Breeze Blowing Consider carrying a small personal handheld fan and/or adding one to your room. Although environmental factors are completely to blame, controlling some may help you. Relax with Deep Breathing, Prayer, Gratitude and Exercise If you notice that stress is a trigger for your hot flashes (stress releases epinephrine, which increases body temperature and sweating), it’s a good idea to find a way to relax quickly. Try taking deep breaths, praying, thinking of 3 gratitudes, or taking a walk. Diet and Nutrients as Help for Hot Flashes Nutrients, in particular proteins and fats, help guide healthy hormone and nerve signaling. When going through premenopause or perimenopause, it’s important to eat nutrients that support and balance your hormones and thyroid function. Thyroid hormones, like sex hormones, are affected by menopausal changes. First, a healthy diet, and healthy body weight, can help. A good diet will help you maintain steady blood sugars while supporting hormone production. Focus on eating healthy fats and proteins such as: Avocados, coconut oil, extra virgin olive oil, and other healthy fats High-quality seafood, chicken, and meats Fiber-rich vegetables and leafy greens Small amounts and berries and cranberries Salted nuts Roasted seaweed Free-range and/or local eggs Specific Nutrients for Help with Hot Flashes 1.Licorice Root Licorice root is the root of a plant called Glycyrrhiza glabra, native to Europe and Asia. Many women have found relief using it to combat hot flashes. One study in which menopausal women took ~1000 mg licorice root per day (330 mg, 3 times per day) for 8 weeks reduced the severity and frequency of hot flashes. These effects lasted until the women discontinued use (7). 2. Black Cohosh Black cohosh is a flowering plant scientifically known as Actaea racemosa and Cimicifuga racemosa. It has been used by Native American cultures for centuries to relieve menopause symptoms. However, its use remains controversial for many practitioners. There have been many studies on black cohosh, typically with doses between 6.5 to 160 mg per day. While some have shown it is effective for menopausal symptoms like hot flashes, it has also been associated (rarely) with some severe health complications like liver damage. It can interact with prescribed medicines and other herbs. Make sure to talk to your doctor before using black cohosh. 3. Fenugreek Also known as Trigonella foenum, this herb contains compounds of mucilage, proteins and steroidal saponins that have both lipid-lowering effects and relief for menopausal symptoms like hot flashes. No harmful or dangerous side effects have been found by the intake of therapeutic doses (8, 9). 4. Thyroid Supporting Blends Another reason a woman might experience unregulated hot and cold spells during menopause is due to changes in thyroid hormones. During this time of life, it can become extremely important to support thyroid health. A thyroid blend supplement with natural iodine, selenium, zinc, copper, vitamins A, D, and B12, Ashwagandha extract, Guggul Extract, Coleus Forskohlii., and more can support thyroid health through menopause to improve symptoms. 5. Diindolylmethane (Top Choice) My top choice for menopausal symptom relief, Diindolylmethane (DIM) is an amazing compound produced by our bodies when we eat cruciferous vegetables, that alters the metabolism of estrogens. It helps your body naturally convert damaging estrogen forms to healthy estrogen metabolites. The damaging forms cause most premenstrual and menopausal symptoms including hot flashes, and DIM can offer natural relief. It’s also been found to have anti-cancer properties and support overall health (10). In nature, it’s found in cruciferous vegetables. For therapeutic levels, try a DIM hormone-supporting supplement. Bottom Line You are not doomed to live years with hot flashes. Instead, there’s help for hot flashes. Look at your environment to cool down as much as you can, and then use natural supplements and foods to relieve them from the inside out. These supplements specifically can give you swift results. Find your relief today! To read the original article click here. For more articles from Dr. Colbert click here.

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