Seed Cycling to Balance Hormones
Women’s hormones are hugely dictated by diet, stress levels, toxins, sleep and exercise. They are in delicate balance all of the time, and can easily be disrupted leading to a host of difficulties; PMS, painful or heavy periods, low mood, anger and more long term disorders like endometriosis, polycystic ovaries and fertility.
The good news is, all of these things are something we can control and address, and see profound results in a short space of time…diet and nutrition has a BIG impact!
Seed cycling is one small daily practise you can incorporate to try and bring some balance to your hormones.
How does it work?
During the two phases of your menstrual cycle, you eat two specific seeds:
Phase one (day 1 – 14) – follicular: one tbsp pumpkin and one tbsp flax seeds
Phase two (day 14 – 28) – luteal – one tbsp sunflower and one tbsp sesame seeds
The reason it is so beneficial is down to the unique compounds found in these seeds. During the follicular phase pumpkin & flaxseeds contain compounds to help promote oestrogen whilst also prevent oestrogen dominance. Ligans in flax seeds help bind excess oestrogen, whilst pumpkin seeds are super high in zinc, which promotes the rise in our super hormone, progesterone.
In the second phase of the cycle, both sunflower & sesame continue to support rising progesterone whilst also keeping a lid on oestrogen.
It can take up to three months to see the benefits so it’s good to keep track.
Always ensure these are organic and purchased in whole seed form. You want to crush them directly prior to eating, either by hand or using an electric blender (easier!). They make a delicious addition to soups, stews, smoothies, yogurts, or topped on just about any food
Based on a 28 day cycle:
Day 1-14 of your cycle – or period to ovulation:
· 1-2 tbsp ground flax seeds
· 1-2 tbsp ground pumpkin seeds
Day 15-28 of your cycle – or ovulation to first day of your period:
· 1-2 tbsp ground sunflower seeds
· 1-2 tbsp ground sesame seeds
Irregular or No Period?
Even if you don’t have a 28 day cycle, it’s recommended you still follow the 14 day seed cycle. It can even have benefit in regulating irregular cycles. If you don’t menstruate or have already gone through menopause you can still reap the reward of balancing hormones and it is recommended that you follow the 28 day cycle of the moon. The moon and its lunar cycle are believed to affect everything from mood and sleep to our reproductive cycles. You only have to look at the gravitational impact that the moon has on oceans and tidal waters, and consider humans are made up of up to 70% water, to see how this may correlate.
New Moon to Full Moon – Day 1 to Day 14
· 1-2 tbsp ground flax seeds
· 1-2 tbsp ground pumpkin seeds
Full Moon to New Moon – Day 14- Day 28
· 1-2 tbsp ground sunflower seeds
· 1-2 tbsp ground sesame seeds
It is important to note, if you have a hormone imbalance, seed cycling alone is unlikely to work. It should be done in tandem with other hormone balancing protocols, with a particular emphasis on diet and nutrition, and the help of a qualified health coach, nutritionist or naturopath.