Florida has been screaming hot this past week, with the heat index registering close to 110 degrees over the weekend!

While summer is rough on most humans, nobody suffers more than menopausal women. Nothing like the sweltering heat to amp up a good hot flash, eh?

This kat has collected a few tips to help you (or the woman you love) minimize discomfort from "the change of life."

Supplements to Ease Menopause Menace

• Black Cohosh - Black cohosh ranks the most highly studied supplement for menopause. Black cohosh seems to work by helping maintain normal hormonal levels, which lessens the severity of hot flashes for many women. 

• Dong Quai - Dong Quai is considered a rejuvinating herb or "adaptogen," like ginseng, since it promotes endocrine balance. This comes in handy during menopause by enhancing metabolism, improving liver function (thus improving hormone synthesis), and aiding in the use of Vitamin E.

• Lignans (Flax) - Like soy, lignans act as phytoestrogens, mimicking estrogen activity in the body. Interestingly, if there is little estrogen in the body (after menopause, for example), lignans may act like weak estrogen; but when natural estrogen is abundant in the body, lignans may instead reduce estrogen's effects by displacing it from cells. This displacement may help prevent cancers, such as breast cancer, that depend on estrogen to develop.

• Fish Oil - Fish Oil may help improve negative mood changes associated with menopause, and may help out with hot flashes, too. One study of 120 women found that omega-3 fatty acid EPA was more effective than placebo in reducing hot flashes. Women in the EPA group were three times more likely to experience a substantial improvement (>50% reduction in hot flashes) than those in the placebo group.

  The Co-op offers three concentrations of fish oil, depending on your omega-3 fatty acid appetite.

  Fish Oil - 1000mg of Fish Oil offering 300mg total of EPA & DHA omega-3 fatty acids.

  Concentrated Fish Oil - 1200mg of Fish Oil offering 600mg total of EPA & DHA omega-3 fatty acids.

  Enteric Coated Concentrated Fish Oil - 1400mg of Fish Oil offering 980mg of EPA & DHA omege-3 fatty acids. Each softgel is enteric coated, offering extra protection against fishy aftertaste.

Lifestyle Changes to Support Fewer, Milder Flashes

Exercise Regularly - Don't scrimp on your workouts. Not only does exercise help lower blood sugar and stimulate bone tissue growth, aerobic activity helps alleviate hot flashes and helps you sleep.

Chill Out - Unfortunately for you foodies, hot flashes can be triggered by hot and spicy foods, caffeine, and alcohol, so be on the lookout for triggering foods and eliminate 'em.

Breathe Easy - Many women claim yoga, meditation, relaxation exercises, and stress reduction techniques help diminish menopause symptoms, and they're probably onto something. Deep rhythmic breathing practiced twice daily has been clinically shown to reduce hot flashes, and while relaxation techniques may not work for everyone, they can be particularly handy when it comes to menopause-related sleep disturbances.

Keep Cool - This may seem like a no-brainer, but even slight changes in temperature can trigger hot flashes, so it's worth stating the obvious. Open the window or use a fan or air conditioner to keep air fresh and cool. Dress in layers, which can be pulled off. Sip cool drinks. Provide yourself multiple resources to stay cool, in the heat and out.

Teri, an expert of weathering hot flashes, says, "Keeping a glass of ice water close by helps when you start to feel a flash coming on. Dousing the flame while it is on the rise will make the flash shorter in endurance. At least it did for me."