What is the best way to get rid of menopausal hot flashes without using hormone therapy

In fact, there is no Japanese word for "hot flashes." "Healing With Vitamins" author Alice Feinstein writes, "If you're fed up with menopause, move to Japan. In the Land of the Rising Sun, hot flashes and night sweats are virtually unheard of. Researchers believe that it has more to do with their traditional diet. Besides providing more vegetable protein and less animal protein than a Western diet, it's also low in fat and high in soy products such as tofu. These foods are rich in plant compounds known as phytoestrogens, which seem to mimic some of the biological activities of female hormones."

In addition to soy and tofu products, women can help combat hot flashes by eating more calcium-rich foods, magnesium-rich foods and foods rich in vitamin E -- like cold-pressed oils, green leafy vegetables, nuts and almonds, as well as plenty of mineral- and fiber-rich foods, like whole grains and fresh vegetables. Janet Zand, Allan N. Spreen and James B. LaValle -- authors of "Smart Medicine for Healthier Living" -- suggest women who suffer from hot flashes add sea vegetables to their diets. "The minerals in these foods replenish necessary electrolytes lost through perspiration," they write.

During menopause, it is also important for women to get plenty of water. "One of the best things you can do during this time is to be sure to drink plenty of quality water -- at least 2 quarts daily," writes Phyllis A. Balch, author of "Prescription for Dietary Wellness." "Drinking water replaces fluids lost to perspiration during hot flashes and can even prevent or minimize the hot flashes themselves."