Cycle syncing, diet changes, supplement additions are all common ideas you hear people try out when regulating their hormones, but what about seed cycling? Today I explain what seed cycling is. I also answer the question, should you try seed cycling for hormone balance?
In the past few months, I’ve received a handful of questions around the concept of seed cycling and I thought I would answer them here. Now I have to be honest, while I had heard of seed cycling I really didn’t know a ton about it.
So of course, I decided to go on a quest to learn more about seed cycling and the value of it. If you combine what we already know, that food can be used as medicine and add the value of cycling nutrients at specific times, seed cycling does make sense.
Today in another short episode of Friday Five I break down the five things you need to get started seed cycling. I’ve also put together a free downloadable guide to get you started! You can grab that below.
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why try seed cycling
Seed cycling is a system that integrates four different seeds into a rotation that is consumed during the different phases of a women’s menstrual cycle. Although, the phytoestrogens and nutritional properties found in these seeds have also been shown to help the menopausal and post-menopausal woman find hormone relief as well.
The idea behind seed cycling is that seeds carry certain oils, vitamins, and nutrients needed to help support the body’s production, release, and metabolism of hormones.
The seeds that are used in this rotation include:
- pumpkin seeds
- flax seeds
- sesame seeds
- sunflower seeds
Some of the nutrients in the seeds such as lignans in sesame seeds and flax seeds can help the body bind excess estrogen and support the release. The omega-3s help cellular receptor sites to remain in good condition, which in turn keeps hormones in balance.
Of course, the sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds are high in other vitamins and minerals like zinc and selenium that help support hormone precursors and the release of these hormones. You can learn more about all of this on today’s podcast.
how to seed cycle
Seed cycling is completed by rotating the seeds based on the follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle. You begin the first day of menstruation and this starts phase one known as the follicular phase of seed cycling.
Here in the follicular phase or day 1-14 of your cycle, your body is working to balance out excess estrogen. The seeds you incorporate during this phase are flax seeds and pumpkin seeds that work to help transmit the hormones throughout the body and also prevent estrogen from converting into other harmful forms of estrogen.
Again during this phase you want to consume 1 tablespoon of ground {preferably freshly ground} flax seeds and pumpkin seeds adding it to your smoothies, salads, oatmeal, etc.
The second phase is the luteal phase, or day 15-30. In this phase, progesterone begins to be released which thickens the uterus lining to prepare for implantation. Here sunflower seeds and sesame seeds have been shown to be beneficial by ridding the body of excess estrogens and high levels of zinc stimulating progesterone production.
Again, you can get the exact how-to in my download and learn even more in today’s podcast.
a balanced cycle
I laughed as I wrote that, and you may too. For some woman, you may question if a balance is even a real thing. So many of us are accustomed to feeling terrible before and during our period that we assume it’s normal.
But let me assure you, it is not.
Cramps, PMS, anxiety, depression, mood swings, excessive hunger, migraines or whatever you are suffering from are not a sign of normalcy. Instead, this is your body crying out to tell you something is not working right.
Seed cycling combined with cycling syncing can be monumental in regulating your hormones. Even better is doing a quick restart, reboot and refresh of those hormones. To dive deep into healing and restoring so that your body can then regulate and thrive off of seed cycling and cycle syncing.
Want to balance your hormones?
Five days, the right environment, a healthy mindset and a winning plan is all your body needs to get back on track. To end the viscous sugar cravings, cut back on caffeine, regulate your cycle, increase your libido, awaken your brain and put more joy in your soul.
This 5-day system will teach you how to incorporate healing practices into your every day, what foods jump-start your hormones and help create healthy habits that last a lifetime. Not to mention, the meal plan is family friendly and delicious.
Make sure to check out my 5-Day Hormonal Reset Program. The perfect guide to understanding how to nourish your body, provide the right environment for change. All with a healthy mindset. It makes the how-to simple and easy!
Not to mention, the recipes are delicious! You can check out a one-day sample below!
Make the investment in your health here and reset your hormones in just five days!
precautions with seed cycling
Of course like anything in life, it’s probably wise to check with your doctor to ensure there isn’t a serious underlying reason you’re suffering. But outside of that, for all of us, it’s important to know our own hormonal shifts. To get acquainted with our body and honor what it needs.
Now that the air is cleared, listen to your body, track your cycle and get acquainted with it. Knowing this, your cycle is the first step!
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references
Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom: Creating Physical and Emotional Health and Healing by Christiane Northrup, M.D.
The Ecology of Estrogen in the Female Body
Jesswein, L. (2012). Seed Cycling for Natural Hormonal Balance. Retrieved from http://naturalhealthperspectives.blogspot.com/2012/02/seed-cycling-for-natural-hormonal.html
Phipps, W.R., Martini, M.C., Lampe, J.W., Slavin, J.L., Kurzer, M.S. (1993). Effect of flax seed ingestion on the menstrual cycle. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 77(5):1215 – 1219
Goss, P.E., Li, T., Theriault, M., Pinto, S., Thompson, L.U. (2000). Effects of dietary flaxseed in women with cyclical mastalgia. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, 64:49
Gossell-Williams, M., Hyde, C., Hunter, T., Simms-Stewart, D,. Fletcher, H., McGrowder, D., Walters, C.A. (2011). Improvement in HDL cholesterol in postmenopausal women supplemented with pumpkin seed oil: pilot study. Climacteric, 14(5):558-64.
Zaineddin, A.K., Buck, K., Vrieling, A., Heinz, J., Flesch-Janys, D., Linseisen, J., Chang-Claude, J. (2012). The association between dietary lignans, phytoestrogen-rich foods, and fiber intake and postmenopausal breast cancer risk: a German case-control study. Nutrition and Cancer, 64(5):652-65.
