Seed Cycling

SEED CYCLING

Have you heard of seed cycling? It’s a process of eating different seeds throughout your cycle to promote hormone balance.

Understanding your lady cycle

A normal cycle is 28 days and can be divided in 2 phases.

Follicular Phase

Day 1 of menses to day 14

• Estrogen is dominant to help for follicular growth or egg especially during the last part of the cycle.

• Ovulation occurs at end of this phase when estrogen peaks–-perfect timing for pregnancy to occur.

Luteal phase

Day 15 to 28

• Progesterone is dominant and helpful for easing unwanted PMS symptoms like mood swings, bloating, cramping and sleep disturbances.

Type of seeds

Flaxseeds for Follicular Phase

They are rich in lignans and phytoestrogens, which help support the good estrogen and balance out the bad estrogen.

Pumpkin seeds for Follicular Phase

They are high in zinc, which helps support progesterone in the later portion of the follicular cycle and in preparing for the 2nd half of the cycle, when you really need the progesterone.

Sesame seeds for Luteal Phase

They are high omega-6 which help elevate progesterone levels until your period begins again.

Sunflower seeds for Luteal Phase

Sunflower seeds are rich in Vitamin B6, which help with healthy progesterone levels.

How much to prepare seeds & how much to eat

Use raw organic seeds and place in coffee grinder (have separate grinders for coffee and seeds).

Place 1-2 tablespoon in grinder until finely grounded. It’s during this process the oils, lignans and nutrients are released.

Use 1 tablespoon of each seed per day according to your cycle on salads, sprinkle on yogurt, oatmeal, soup, or mix in smoothies.

It’s best to grind daily for freshness and potency, however, if you want to prep ahead of time, place in a glass mason jar and store in refrigerator or freezer. Use within 1 week.

Abnormal cycle or no menses

Use the moon cycle as a guideline, which is typically about 28 days. The new moon cycle would equate with follicular phase or day one of the cycle. Start with flaxseed and pumpkin seeds. The full moon equates with the beginning of the luteal phase.

When women lived together years ago prior to the industrialization age where the sun and moon were their daily clocks, their ovulations tend to occur at the same time of the full moon.

Resources:

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/sunflower-seeds

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16407788

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7386123

https://www.drnorthrup.com/wisdom-of-menstrual-cycle/