Seed cycling is one of my fav ways to help support hormone production while also having a nutritious snack and connecting with your cycle.
Let me explain!
Essentially you're eating different seeds at different times of your cycle. These specific seeds help to support either estrogen or progesterone, depending on which phase of your cycle you're in (follicular vs luteal).
Unlike drugs or certain herbal medicines, seed cycling is simply giving the teeny building blocks that your body needs to help with that hormone production. If your body doesn't need it, then it won't use it. Simple as that!
Seed cycling is a fantastic support, along with customized naturopathic care, to help promote a regular menstrual cycle.
Step One
The first step is to understand what phase of your cycle you're in. You can check out my article here about Connecting with Your Cycle Phase.
Step Two
Here are the seeds you will need:
pumpkin seeds
whole flax seeds
sesame seeds
sunflower seeds
Step Three
Follicular Phase (Day 1-14):
1 tbsp pumpkin seeds
1 tbsp of **freshly ground** flaxseed
Luteal Phase (Day 15-30):
1 tbsp of sesame seeds
1 tbsp of sunflower seeds
Note: Whole flaxseed is beautifully packaged by nature to be resistant to degradation. However, our bodies can't actually break down whole flaxseed and extract the wonderful hormone-supporting fats. To help our body break it down, you'll need to grind up the flaxseed in a blender or cleaned coffee grinder.
But watch out! After the flax has been ground, you have to keep it in the fridge or freezer to prevent it from spoiling. I don't recommend purchasing pre-ground flaxseed for this reason.
Step Four
Consider making these into fun treats to eat daily
Recipe for Seed Cycling Energy Balls
Here are 2 different variations, feel free to mix and match seeds depending on the phase!
Follicular Phase:
1 cup freshly ground flax seed
1 cup pumpkin seeds
3/4 cup nut butter
1/2 - 1 cup protein powder
2 tbsp coconut oil
1-2 tbsp maple syrup
1/2 cup shredded coconut
1/4 cup water/nut milk
pinch of salt
Blend together and form 28 equal-sized balls. Store in fridge or freezer
Eat 2 balls daily during your follicular phase
Luteal Phase:
1 cup sunflower seed
1 cup sesame seeds
5-10 dates
1/2 - 1 cup protein powder
1/2 cup nut milk
pinch of salt
Blend together and form 28 equal-sized balls. Store in fridge or freezer
Eat 2 balls daily during your luteal phase
Fun Variations to Consider
cocoa nibs and cocoa powder
ginger, cinnamon, clove
lemon zest and ginger
vanilla and cranberries
hemp or coconut flake coating
Looking for a more in-depth hormone treatment plan? I'm here to help! Feel free to chat with me during a discovery call and let's see how my Hormone Reclaim Method works for you.
As always, the information on this website is intended for educational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your Naturopathic Doctor or another qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding your health and before making any changes to your treatment plan.