Wheat Can Contribute to Hot Flashes

Updated: August 8th, 2010 | 2

Women who have never had a problem with wheat may develop a sensitivity when they are going through menopause. The sensitivity can cause stomach discomfort, joint pain, and intensify hot flashes. Since most women have eaten wheat products their entire lives, they are unlikely to suspect that is what is causing the problem. My diet is essentially free from gluten and while my hot flashes didn’t disappear, they became much milder.

So, ladies, this is something to try if you suffer from hot flashes or if you have stomach discomfort after eating wheat. If it doesn’t work for you, it will certainly do no harm and you might enjoy sampling the alternatives to wheat. There are many gluten free products that taste good to the whole family. We eat brown rice and rice pasta. There are mac and cheese and other convenience mixes. Amy’s has a great pizza with a rice crust. IKEA does a delicious gluten free almond cake. Going wheat-free may cost more unless you make everything from scratch, but it may be worth it if it saves on physical discomfort.

Also, most women found other foods make hot flashes worse.

• Tea
• Coffee
• Alcohol
• Caffeine containing soft drinks
• Spicy foods
• Smoking