Raise your hand if your periods suck. Raise your hand if your periods are irregular. And raise your hand if your periods are painful.
I suspect you may have raised your hand. You are not alone my friend. Many women experience some form of hormone imbalance. Imbalances between the hormones estrogen and progesterone throughout your cycle can be linked to PMS symptoms, menstrual cramping, painful breasts, hormonal acne, short luteal phases, lack of ovulation, and irregular cycles.
Estrogen and progesterone are two hormones that help you regulate your menstrual cycle. Estrogen levels should be expected to rise during the first half of the cycle, whereas progesterone levels rise during the second half of your cycle. While progesterone rises, estrogen levels start to decline.
When these two hormones are out of sync, you may experience some of the symptoms previously mentioned.
What Is Seed Cycling?
Seed cycling is a natural way to help your body re-balance its hormone levels. It is the practice of including different seeds during the different phases of your menstrual cycle. The key seeds used in this process are flaxseed, pumpkin, sunflower, and sesame.
Certain seeds contain a compound called lignans. These lignans provide subtle phytoestrogen activity, to help the body eliminate excess estrogen. When estrogen is metabolized & detoxed efficiently from the body, it encourages healthy hormone balance!
Seeds are also packed full of essential fats and trace minerals. The essential fats function as the building blocks for hormone production. Meanwhile, trace minerals like zinc and selenium support different functions such as hormone production or detoxification.
How To Seed Cycle
First things first. You may be wondering how to seed cycle. The practice of seed cycling is fairly simple. You’ll rotate 4 different seeds throughout your cycle: 2 seeds for your follicular phase (day 1- 14), and 2 for your luteal phase (day 15-28).
Starting on day one of your cycle (first day of your period), you’ll eat two tablespoons of freshly, ground flaxseed and raw pumpkin seeds. You will continue to consume two tablespoons of these seeds daily, until day 15 of your cycle.
Starting on day 15 of your cycle (generally around the time of ovulation), you’ll begin eating two tablespoons of freshly, ground, raw sunflower seeds and sesame seeds.
Seed Cycling Tips and Tricks
- Before you begin, make sure you’ve chosen raw, unsalted seeds. Seeds have very delicate oils. These oils can be easily destroyed when heated, so raw seeds are best.
- It’s best to grind the seeds fresh before eating. First, since they are broken down, the oils more bio-available and easier to digest. I also recommend grinding them fresh to prevent the sensitive oils from going rancid.
- To keep them fresh, do not grind more than 3-4 days worth at a time. Place in an airtight container and place in the refrigerator or freezer.
FAQ’s
Can I seed cycle while on birth control?
Unfortunately, seed cycling will not help to balance your hormones while on the birth control pill. Hormonal birth control releases synthetic forms of estrogen and progesterone. As this happens, the body no longer produces these hormones. As a result, your body stops ovulating.
For this reason, seed cycling will not assist with balancing your hormones. However, this is a great tool to use when coming off the birth control pill.
How long does it take to work?
This answer varies from person to person. While you may notice changes within the first month, it usually takes about 3-4 cycles for most. After this 3-4 months, most people tend to see significant improvement in their symptoms and cycle regularity.
When should I start seed cycling if I do not have cycle?
Many women’s cycles are aligned with the moon cycle. Because of this, you can align your seed cycling with the moon phases. On the first day of the new moon, start taking your two tablespoons of ground flaxseed and pumpkin seeds.
Have you tried seed cycling in the past? Share the details in the comments below! In the meantime, if you want our complete PDF guide to seed cycling, click here to subscribe to our list. Our Beginner’s Guide to Seed Cycling will be sent straight to your inbox!
