The Hot Flash Cookbook: Delicious Recipes for Health and Well-Being Through Menopause

For the 40 million American women who will reach the age of 50 by the year 2000, award-winning cookbook author Cathy Luchetti provides delicious recipes for health and well-being during menopause featuring wholesome ingredients such as fresh herbs, root vegetables, nuts, and fish, inspired by a variety of delectable ethnic flavors and cuisines. 2-color illus.

Lucchetti, a well-respected food writer living in the San Francisco area, actually experimented with her own diet while experiencing the ups and downs of menopause. Her findings, supported by impressive scientific research, reveal that certain foods do indeed help minimize the hot flashes and mood swings associated with the climacteric. And like a good reporter unwilling to concede everything to a combination of faith and test-tube proof, she summarizes well the benefits of vitamin E^-rich foods and phytoestrogens; theories; cultural differences; demographics; and, yes, even the phenomenon known as malepause. The real bonus and main attraction, however, is the 150 dishes geared to soothing menopause symptoms; most are easy to cook, rely heavily on vegetables and fruits, and represent some fresh and creative culinary approaches. Asparagus, for example, is first blanched, then dipped in a sesame concoction. Tea is given a new life with new ingredients--leaves from red raspberries, dried nettles, and motherwort, for instance. Barbara Jacobs

As baby boomers hit menopause, and as Americans in general turn away from total reliance on allopathic medicine in favor of more natural remedies, a cookbook that features recipes to aid in controlling hot flashes and other symptoms of menopause should find a large audience. Luchetti, winner of the James Beard Award for Best Writing on American Food, began collecting these recipes when she first experienced symptoms. Featured are foods such as fennel, yams, and tofu that are high in vitamin E and phytoestrogen. In a lengthy introduction, she discusses menopause, estrogen, plant estrogens, and the foods used in the recipes. Many of these recipes are quite simple, such as roasted butternut squash with hazelnuts (four ingredients); others are projects?the list of ingredients for pan-roasted chicken with ginger is two pages. This book is worth having just for its list of foods to use and foods to avoid. Recommended for health and cookbook collections.?Carol Cubberley, Univ. of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.