Foods That Trigger Hot Flashes — A New Dimension To The Yin-Yang Spectrum

In her book, Embracing Menopause Naturally, Gabriele Kushi gives us a list of certain stimulating foods that can trigger hot flashes and a list of cooling foods that can help reduce them or give you relief during a hot flash. Interestingly enough, most of the stimulating foods that she mentions are avoided in the basic and centering macrobiotic diets, whereas most of the cooling foods are included.

From personal experience, I'm adding coffee as a major hot flash trigger, which kept me up all night long one time after drinking only two afternoon cafe lattes in a row! I can attest to every food item on the lists below as to the truth of its effectiveness except for the collards, turnip greens, and the meat. :)

Foods That Trigger Hot Flashes:
[YIN]
• Citrus fruits, including oranges, lemons, grapefruit
• Tomatoes
• Strawberries
• Chocolate
• Coffee
• Spices, exotic (such as chili pepper, cinnamon)
• Hot beverages
• Alcohol (especially wine)
• Crackers
• Chips
• Popcorn
• Hard Cheeses
• Meat
• Eggs
[YANG]

Foods That Help Relieve Hot Flashes:
[YIN]
• Apples and carrots
• Tofu
Green and white vegetables, like: 
• Raw cucumber
• Collards
• Kale
• Broccoli
• Nappa cabbage
• Mustard greens
• Turnip greens
• Bok choy
• Watercress
• Dandelion leaves
• Turnip leaves
• Chinese cabbage
• Lettuce
[YANG]

The book also includes recipes and useful information about foods that contain oxalic acid, those that don't, and foods that promote bone loss (osteoporosis). 

On page 74, in the recipe for "Lentil Soup with Dandelion," Gabriele points out that dandelion strengthens the liver. This is good news for my weight loss diet plan, since Herman Aihara said in his book, Basic Macrobiotics, that "if you have a weak liver, you will tend to accumulate fat"! 

Overall, Gabriele Kushi's book is a very helpful and beautiful work of art. I love it!

Related Blog Articles:

Weight Loss Tips From Herman Aihara

Designing My Own Weight-Loss Diet

Wild Dandelion Greens Freshen Up Dinner

The Yin And Yang Spectrum Of Food, Part 1  

What Is The Macrobiotic Centering Diet?

What Not To Eat (Or Drink) On A Macrobiotic Diet