Has anyone noticed this? I think there could be a correlation between Atkins diet and hot flashes. I went on the diet, and was on it for most of last year. Had horrible hot flashes. Went off it and the hot flashes went away. Then I started eating Atkins style again, and... hot flashes came back. Isn't that the oddest thing? Maybe it's a coincidence?

Frances

Hummm that IS interesting. Sugar always bring them on for me, and as you know Atkins is very low sugar. When I stay low carb, my flashes go away. Sounds like it's just too much of a coincidence, but anything is possible.

I think Atkins diet can bring on hot flashes. Not sure if it is just loss of estrogen, but I have read that Atkins diet is testosterone friendly, not estrogen friendly, I think women feel better getting more phytoestrogens from veggies, beans, etc.
I just get depressed from very low carb, and do better with reduced carb diet.
Also, since carbs needed to make serotonin, and serotonin plays big role in hot flashes, you need more healthy cabrs to stop flashing. Just avoid sugars and desserts, and you will feel better.
The fat loss can also lower estrogen level, on any diet, I think.

I understand fatty foods can trigger them. For this reason, I stick to low carb and choose leaner cuts of meats and poultries and eat more fish like salmon, tuna and sardines.

Also, some spices can contribute to hot flases.

Keep well hydrated--at least 8 glasses of water a day plus whatever other liquids you consume. Watch the artificial sweetners, too. I drink flavored seltzer and haven't had a regular diet soda in months.

Hey Bookworm,
How is fatty food triggers hot flash, is it fat curbing protein/serotonin conversion? Interesting thought, any ideas how?
I too can't "afford" to eat carbs, but can't eat much fat/protein too, not because of hot flashes, just because it does not digest right now, especially red meat, just sits in my stomach.
I have no hot flashes, not yet, but if I cut carbs too low, I get depressed, and lethargic.

Thanks everyone for your comments. Much appreciated. Should design my own little experiment to test my hypothesis that atkins generates hot flashes for me. Not sure it is coincidental. I ate sugar today, and no hot flashes. On Atkins days I get them quite often. It's as though the sugar keeps the hot flashes at bay! That would be an interesting remedy, no?

Frances

I'm not sure. I read that on a menopause site as one of the possible causes of hot flashes. I guess I'll have to do some further research!

It sounds like you are not sticking to the diet faithfully if you're still eating sugar. Perhaps it is something else triggering the flashes? Perhaps the sugar stays in your system slowly altering the state of your hormones, thus the hot flashes are a result of something cumulative (staying in your system and gradually altering your hormone levels) rather than something you've eaten that same day?? Does that make sense???

It could be the sugar and your body could be responding days later. Or what you could do is pay attention to foods that you eat regularly on Atkins, one of those could actually be causing the hot flashes... I eat moderate carb because of my depression, too low and it worsens! I feel better eating a small portion of a complex carb daily....usually fruit...sometimes a potato...

TJ

Judging by the typical good success of estradiol supplementation, it's pretty clear that estradiol is a key player in temperature regulation. But it's doubtful it's the only player. Insulin, serotonin, or any number of other subtances in the body could have an effect. I'm not finding any difference in my hot flashes between diet days and non-diet days, but I'm not doing an Atkins diet, I'm just cutting back on sugary crap and eating less of the good stuff I normally eat.

Doesn't Atkins put you in that state of ketosis ? Maybe it's not a peri or meno hot flash at all but an entirely different kind of temp problem. Do women who are not peri or meno get Atkins flashes ?

You know you might be onto something Sandra, it could actually be caused by ketosis... Something she should definitely consider, and in that case upping her carbs would help with that!

TJ