Did you know that Japanese women tend to suffer hot flashes only about 1/3 as often as American women? Or that those following a vegetarian diet also complain of hot flashes far less than rest of us? Of course, you don’t have to give up steaks just yet – but doctors and nutritional professionals suspect that difference is largely due to use of soy products in diets of these women, and several women have now realized that by incorporating some soy in their diets, their symptoms of menopause have abated considerably.

In fact, altering your diet in small ways can have greatest positive effect on your body as it transitions to menopause and beyond. For instance, by staying away from hot drinks, you’re not giving your body reason to “heat up” and produce a hot flash. At same time, reducing your caffeine intake (which often comes in form of hot drinks, including coffee and tea) will naturally help you sleep better at night, which will keep your mood and mental state healthy.

Lastly, replacing these drinks with water and juice will keep your bones and muscles well-lubricated, prevent osteoporosis from settling in, and temper your general aches and pains. We know it’s no easy task to give up coffee, but think of endless benefits of this one relatively minor change to your diet.

In fact, one of most commonly complained about symptoms of menopause these days is weight gain that seems to come along with it. Put simply, your body isn’t burning calories in same way it once was, so if you don’t change your diet – even if it’s already a healthy one – you’re bound to gain a few pounds around waist.

Changing your diet now, simply by avoiding a few foods that are bound to make other symptoms worse, while increasing foods high in certain vitamins while remaining low in calories, will help you to maintain your figure while giving your body nutrients it needs to fight off some of worst symptoms of menopause.