Seed Cycling for Feminine Health

Seed Cycling is the practice of incorporating flaxseed, pumpkin seed, sunflower seeds and sesame seeds depending on the phase of your cycle in order to help to balance your hormones. Essentially, it helps to optimize estrogen and progesterone levels, due to the minerals present in the seeds. 

Why incorporating it into your diet?

This practice helps us support hormonal health, whether it is irregular periods, PMS, acne, low energy or to boost fertility. It is helpful for women who are transitioning out of hormonal birth control, navigating postpartum hormone shift or moving through perimenopause. It also helps to aid PMS symptoms such as moodiness, cramps, cravings, sore breasts and hormonal acne. It can also be helpful with anovulation (as it was in my case!), irregular cycles an amenorrhea.

How to do it

There are two main phases of your cycle, the follicular and the luteal phase.

Follicular Phase: during the days 1-14 of the cycle, you need a balance amount of estrogen to build the uterine lining. The seeds that will help us during this period are the pumpkin and flaxseeds. 

Pumpkin seeds contain zinc, which aids in progesterone production and supports testosterone levels.

Flaxseeds contain lignans, which aids in excess estrogen detoxification, so as to keep the ideal levels.  Flax and pumpkin seeds are rich in omega 3, which encourage uterine blood flow and maintain healthy cell membranes. 

Luteal Phase: during days 15-28 of the cycle, the corpus luteum starts to release progesterone, which helps to thicken the uterine lining and prepare it for an implantation. Now we will incorporate sesame and sunflower seeds.

Sesame seeds are rich in zinc, that helps with progesterone production. Also containing lignans, which helps to block excess estrogen, and can also lower inflammation.

Sunflower seeds: contain selenium, which will improve liver function and remove excess estrogen. High in vitamin E, also helps to stimulate progesterone production.

Grinding the seeds

It is important to mention that flaxseeds and sesame should be ground up, since they are hard for the body to break down. If this step is skipped, the body will not be able to take out all the nutrients from them. You can do this by introducing them into a blender, or manually with a grinder. In the case of flaxseeds, it is important to soak them in a little bit of water beforehand. 

What if you currently do not have a regular period?

If you are currently struggling with amenorrhea, you can sync with the moon. This means that you will consider the follicular phase from the new moon to full moon, and the Luteal phase from the full moon to new moon.

How to Store the Seeds

Store them in a glass jar in the fridge or freezer, in order to maintain freshness. You can add them to porridges, salads, soups or having them on their own with some fruits or dried fruits such as figs or dried cranberries or apricots.

Give this practice at least 3 months to see the difference in your monthly cycle, and at the same time, it will provide the necessary nutrients for healthy skin, hair and nails!