It's one of the best examples of "food as medicine" tools for getting your cycle back on track, balancing your hormones, and making those FEMALE problems disappear. I use seed cycling myself.
Here is WHY!
Beneficial at any stage in a woman's life, but usually suggested to women who are experiencing hormonal imbalances. What is that? Estrogen dominance- Endometriosis, PCOS, PMS, PMDD, peri-menopause, menopause, post-menopause, migraines/headaches, bleeding issues, acne, hair loss or growth, amenorrhea, or getting off the use of contraception. This is a way to get a natural cycle back and start improving a healthy hormonal balance.
Seed cycling fits similar to the lunar cycle of 28 days, which is what our female cycle runs. Your cycle may be longer or shorter, but few women have 28-day cycles, so just simply adapt the cycle to fit your cycle.
What Happens During Your Cycle?
Day 1 of your cycle is the first day that your period begins. From day 1-14 is considered your follicular phase. During the follicular phase, your estrogen is increasing and an egg is maturing in preparation for ovulation. Ovulation, which typically occurs on day 14 for women with a 28-day cycle and is characterized by the release of an egg, marks the end of the follicular phase. On day 15, you enter the luteal phase. In this phase, the now-empty follicle turns into a structure called the corpus luteum, which produces progesterone and helps thicken your uterine lining to prepare for a pregnancy. If the egg is not fertilized, you will shed the thickened lining and so starts your cycle with day 1 of your period.
How to Incorporate Seeds with your Cycle
On day 1 of your period, until day 14, eat 1-2 tablespoons of freshly ground flax seeds and raw pumpkin seeds. I usually have 1 TBSP of each. (do not get roasted as they are usually cooked in damaging oils such as canola and you need them raw for all the benefits).
These seeds can help naturally increase your estrogen while also providing fiber to support healthy estrogen metabolism. It helps to create a healthy level of estrogen without leading to estrogen dominance. Seeds are rich in essential fatty acids and nutrients, such as selenium and zinc, which also help support your immune system.
Flax seeds are rich in lignans which are helpful with decreasing osteoporosis, balancing estrogen and progesterone as well as heart disease in women. Flax seeds or flax meal (ground up flax seeds) have also shown helpful in decreasing the effects of hair loss, acne and hirsutism (increased hair growth), for women experiencing PCOS. Flax seeds have also shown improvement in breast tenderness during the last part of your cycle, just before you get your period (PMS).
On day 15-28 (or end of your cycle), eat 1-2 TBSP of raw sesame seeds and raw sunflower seeds. This is your luteal phase, when progesterone levels rise and peak. Progesterone is the hormone that is responsible for easing unwanted PMS symptoms like bloating, mood swings, and insomnia. It is considered your HAPPY hormone.
Sesame and sunflower seeds both contain lignans and essential fatty acids to support you through the last part of your cycle.
Postpartum moms, postmenopausal women or those who are experiencing amenorrhea (no periods), can use seed cycling by following the lunar cycle. Use the new moon as your day 1 and eat flax seeds and pumpkin seeds. When the full moon arrives, switch to the sunflower and sesame seeds.
I use all of these in my morning protein shakes or in cooking or baking. I use pumpkin and sunflower seeds in salads. All the seeds can be ground and put in shakes, make a nut butter, put in kefir or gluten-free oatmeal with fruit, as well as can be put into a no-bake energy ball.
Flax and sesame should be fresh ground, all of them should be raw, not roasted.
Give it a try!