Healthy ageing

How to manage symptoms of the menopause this summer

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Beat the heat and keep hot flushes at bay with these natural remedies

Did you know that hot flushes are one of the most common symptoms of the menopause, with approximately 80 percent of women experiencing them? If you suffer, know that you are not alone and there are ways to beat the heat and find some menopause summer relief.

Often described as ‘a sensation of being in a furnace’, a hot flush is a feeling of intense warmth that quickly spreads across your whole body and face, caused by blood vessels near the skin’s surface widening, triggering sweating and redness.

Hot flushes can be embarrassing, uncomfortable and can get in the way of daily life. Night-time can also prove difficult, with the occurrences of night sweats causing restlessness and even insomnia in many cases.

But even as the weather heats up, your symptoms needn’t control your life. Here are some top tips to help keep your cool this summer…

Choose the right fabrics

Fabrics are incredibly important in managing the menopause, says fashion journalist Alyson Walsh: “Go for natural fabrics such as cotton, linen and silk. They absorb moisture from the skin and help air to circulate around the body; they also tend to hold their shape better.” It’s not just about what you wear, though: swapping cotton bed sheets for satin or silk can also help keep you cool at night.

Cool down

Always have a cooling device to hand for when the hot flushes strike. A handheld fan and medical devices such as Promensil Cooling Spray can provide instant relief wherever you are. Promensil’s clinically approved spray works to draw heat away from the skin, with rapid evaporation technology providing a cooling effect that can last up to three hours, reducing skin temperature and redness.

“I do get hot flushes, particularly at night, and this product, sprayed on my chest and upper back, reduces the flushing and sweats instantly. I definitely recommend Promensil to anyone who wants to cool down fast” – Gretel, Amazon Customer

Stay hydrated

During the menopause, it’s important to limit alcohol and caffeine. Not only can they increase your inability to sleep, they have both been linked to increasing levels of hot flushes. Instead, opt for fruity mocktails and herbal teas, and always carry a bottle of water with you if you are out and about, to remind you to stay hydrated throughout the day.

Eat cooling foods

Spicy foods can make hot flushes worse, so avoid chillies and black pepper. According to Ayurveda, there are certain ‘cooling foods’ that are high in water-based content. These foods, such as cucumber, greens, berries, coconut and melon, can help to keep your blood vessels at a similar dilated level when consuming.

Diets that are rich in phytoestrogens are also said to help reduce menopausal symptoms. In fact, studies have shown that those with an Eastern diet are far less likely to experience hot flushes as their diets are high in soy and plant-based oestrogens (phytoestrogens), so it’s also worth increasing your consumption of ingredients such as soya, legumes and green leafy vegetables.

Plant-based, long-term management

Studies suggest that you would need to consume a huge amount of soy in order to get the recommended dose of phytoestrogens to help manage your menopause. However, you can choose to supplement your diet with naturally occurring phytoestrogens such as Promensil Red Clover.

Promensil Double Strength is specifically formulated to provide 80mg of high strength, standardised red clover isoflavones. With the highest levels of active red clover isoflavones on the market, this simple, one-a-day formulation is more effective than lower dose products, more superior to diet and soy isoflavones, and is backed by over 20 years of scientific research.

Promensil Cooling Spray and Double Strength supplements are available to purchase on Amazon. To find out more, visit promensil.co.uk