Many women have heard of the term \’seed cycling,\’ but aren\’t clear about what it is, how it works, and whether it may help with fertility issues. At its most basic, seed cycling helps to balance hormones by eating flax, pumpkin, sesame, and sunflower seeds during various phases of the menstrual cycle.
Why these particular seeds?
It is believed that these four seeds contain specific nutrients, vitamins, phytoestrogens, and essential fatty acids that assist in producing, releasing, and metabolizing hormones. Seed cycling offers a number of benefits including regulating the menstrual cycle, treating endometriosis, PCOS and other conditions that impact fertility, easing menopause symptoms, and more.
What are the phases of the menstrual cycle?
There are four phases including menstruation, follicular phase, ovulation, and luteal phase. While some women have shorter or longer menstrual cycles, 28-30 days is considered the norm. In order for seed cycling to be effective, it\’s important to be in tune with your body and the phases of your menstrual cycle!
In natural medicine, seed cycling works to regulate estrogen during the first half (follicular phase) of your menstrual cycle, and progesterone during the last half (luteal phase) of your cycle. The follicular phase begins on the first day menstruation occurs, and ends at about 13 or 14 days. The luteal phase begins about 15 days from when menstruation begins, and is a period in which estrogen levels peak. During this phase the production of progesterone increases, which is essential for the fertilization of the egg. Because seed cycling regulates estrogen and progesterone hormones, you can understand its possible impact on fertility.
Now you may be wondering what the magic formula is if you\’re interested in regulating hormones, your menstrual cycle, and improving fertility. It\’s simple, really!
Phytoestrogens are natural plant compounds that imitate the action of estrogen. Pumpkin seeds contain zinc, which promotes the production of progesterone; sunflower seeds contain vitamin E which boosts progesterone levels.
On days 1 through 14, eat one tablespoon of freshly ground pumpkin and ground flax seeds daily.
On days 15 through 28, eat one tablespoon of freshly ground sesame and ground sunflower seeds daily.
Not all women ovulate on day 14 or 15, so be intimately aware of your body\’s own rhythms for success with seed cycling.
Seed Cycling Tips & How to Incorporate Into Your Diet:
- Purchase raw organic seeds, which are fresher and of higher quality. Raw retains more of their nutrients than roasted, and less likely to go rancid. You do not want to eat rancid seeds.
- Freshly grind your seeds daily if possible or blend your seeds at the beginning of each phase and store them in a glass jar in the refrigerator or freezer.
- Eat seeds raw and freshly ground. Or, in a pinch consume in other forms, such as: whole, roasted, made into a butter, or in foods like energy balls (google, super yummy)
Add to Food:
- Add to coconut yogurt with nut butter plus fruit
- Blend into a smoothie
- Add to oats or overnight oats or chia pudding
- Sprinkle on top of avocado toast or nut butter toast
- Add to roasted veggies
- Sprinkle on top of hummus
- Add to things like energy balls
Seed Cycling and Fertility
Seed cycling can help enhance fertility, especially when combined with a healthy diet and lifestyle. In addition to seed cycling, other non-invasive treatment is useful for boosting fertility and balancing hormones including acupuncture, which works to reduce stress and promote a sense of better overall well-being. At Points For Wellness, we do a thorough workup that includes lab and symptom review to determine where the imbalance is located.
Whether you are in , Capitola, Soquel, or another nearby city we invite you to reach out to see if we can help you to balance your hormones and/or improve your fertility. We offer free 15 minute phone consultations if you still have questions on how we can help.