Of course, a diet using whole grains and vegetables is preferable but all legumes are high in phytoestrogens, especially soy products such as miso, tofu, soy protein powders, (my favorite is Spiru-tein) tempeh, mung beans and all sprouted beans.

The other foods you may find helpful are potatoes, yams, and carrots. Foods that are high in calcium are almonds, low fat yogurt, as well as dark green leafy veggies such as kale, collard and broccoli. One of the richest herbs that is most commonly used is Alfalfa.

The Chinese say we are weak in Yin at this time. The female component yin is diminished, so eat string beans, black beans, mung beans and royal jelly, which tonifies the female reproductive system. Alcohol and caffeine can bring on hot flashes, and some nutrition experts feel that dairy products promote hot flashes as well.

Yoga exercises also have a way of nourishing and stimulating certain glands and organs of the body.

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You might want to try foods and herbs rather than the controversial HRT or hormone replacement therapy. Hormone replacement therapy has the unpleasant side effect of increased risks to ovarian and breast cancer. And now they are seeing links to Lupus an auto immune deficiency disease. The body's natural enzymes do not easily break down synthetic estrogens. Did you know that much of our estrogen comes from Premarin and is extracted from the bodies of pregnant mares? If you are a lover of horses and an animal activist you should know that this is an extremely painful process for the mare and they must simulate or keep her pregnant at all times. She is quickly destroyed when no longer able to produce Premarin. This form of estrogen is quite potent on the human liver. If you do decide to use HRT then it is safer to use the more natural estrogens and weak doses at first. Why not go herbal?

Herbs such as dandelion root and greens are rich in calcium and also amaranth, chickweed, nettle, seaweed, flax seed and watercress.

Other herbs that relieve hot flashes are: anise, black cohosh, licorice, fennel, raspberry, sage, sarsaparilla, Siberian ginseng, primrose oil, and wild yam.

People that have hypoglycemia at this time will also notice that they are more sensitive and have trouble keeping their blood sugar stable at this time. So make sure you are eating the right foods.