Fish and Flax Your Hot Flashes

A rush up your neck and behind your ears! Hot. Hot. Hot.  Awe oh.  Am I having a flash? Does that sound like you, your sister, or a colleague?

As we search to reduce these bothersome surges known as hot flashes, let us begin with their origin. Read on to see how the science of fatty acid nutrition found in fish and flax make these power foods; a diet necessity in an optimal female world.

Rationale behind Hot Flashes

As our menses cease, hypothalamus changes may occur.  Think of the hypothalamus as our body thermostat.  Erroneously, this thermostat senses a woman is too warm.  As in all science, a chain reaction occurs.  Blood vessels at our skin surface expand to distribute the false warmness.  Flushing, perspiring, quick chill, and or rapid heart rates may all happen.

Comprehend that optimal nutrition gives us strength and endurance; even against hot flashes. If your blood flows well then the brain works better.  Does that not makes sense?    Keep your brain in mind. Although there is a plethora of menopause supplements like Amberen on the market that are proven to help with this, we should always try to use diet to curtail the effects of them prior to taking the path of supplements or other alternatives.

• Stay hydrated by drinking water; especially cool water during a flash. Some say stick the underside of your wrists under a cool water tap during a flash.
• Keep heart and blood healthy with mind-ful protein and fat choices. Replace saturated fat with unsaturated fat specifically omega 3 fatty acids.

Functions of Omega 3 FA

• Tends to reduce that evil: inflammation.
• May decrease triglycerides
• Lower blood pressure
• Enhance  immunity

Simply Up your Omega 3 FA Foods

• Replace animal protein with fish every other day
• Add about 2 tablespoons milled flax seeds daily
• Retrain you taste buds to enjoy…….

-fish
-flax

Which Fish?

Steam that salmon and trout.  Munch on that herring and tuna.  All types of seafood have some Omega 3 FA.  The old rule tends to be the fattier the fish the more fatty acids. Limit the fried ones.

Sea foods such as any fish, scallops, and shrimps are easier on our guts; therefore can contribute to our health.  Understand that we absorb and use more with friendly fat like omega 3 versus the difficult cousin of saturated fat.

What is Flax?

Naturally, they are tiny gold-brown hard coated seeds. These tiny seeds pack a couple of punches; fatty acids and lignans. Lignans are phytoestrogens. The speculation is plant estrogens help females to contribute metabolically to their fluctuating supply of estrogen without medicinal hormone replacement.

Try grinding flaxseed in your spice or coffee grinder as you need.  If you would rather drink than chew then look for flax milk.  Yes, milk is one of the latest products from the flax farms.  Be well. Dr. Elliott, RD