Did you know that hormones are essential to almost every aspect of your health?
Have you ever felt like your hormones are calling the shots? Whether it’s mood swings, energy dips, or those out-of-the-blue cravings—you’re definitely not alone.
Hormones are vital for managing so many bodily functions. From blood sugar levels, weight, appetite, mood, gut health, sleep-wake cycles, physical appearance and much more. Given their extensive impact on the body, when hormones become imbalanced it can show up in unpleasant ways.
However, mood swings, irregular or absent periods, brain fog, acne and other skin issues, hot flushes and night sweats, low libido, and unwanted hair growth or loss aren’t just symptoms to blame on hormones. They’re the body’s way of communicating with you indicating that something needs to change. Our hormones are like the silent conductors of our body’s orchestra, and sometimes it feels like they’re playing their own tune. But what if there was a natural way to help support hormonal balance?
One of the most powerful tools at your disposal to address hormonal imbalances is food. While changing your diet isn’t always easy, it’s possible—and it can lead to remarkable improvements in both your life and over time, your hormones.
A nutrient-rich diet, particularly one that includes foods known to support hormone health, is one of the best ways to naturally restore balance to your body. Enter seed cycling – a powerful method to enhance hormonal health, taking advantage of the natural hormone-balancing, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties of certain seeds. Alongside a balanced diet, seed cycling can transform your relationship with your hormones.
In this post, we’re going to break down what seed cycling is, how it works, and how it can help you feel more balanced and in control. Ready to dive in and discover how some tiny seeds can make a big difference? Let’s get started!
Seed cycling involves consuming specific seeds during different phases of the menstrual cycle to potentially promote the production and metabolism of oestrogen and progesterone. The idea is that the nutrients in these seeds can support the body’s hormone production and balance.
Seed cycling is a great way of incorporating nutrient dense seeds (four different types in total) during the two main phases of your cycle (follicular and luteal). The seeds provide specific nutrients to help build and balance the hormones needed for each stage of your cycle.
⭐️Follicular – Ovulation (Days 1 – 14): 1-2 tablespoons each of flax seeds and pumpkin seeds
⭐️Ovulation – Luteal (Days 15 – 28): 1-2 tablespoons each of sesame and sunflower seeds
It’s not ‘one size fits all’ and most people’s cycles vary. For example, if you ovulate sooner or later than day 14, you can adjust accordingly.
And at the end of the day, seeds are a great source of fibre as well as being a powerhouse of nutrients. They support cardiovascular and gut health, help to balance blood sugar levels and reduce inflammation. Fibre rich diets also help mop up excess oestrogen which can contribute to a number of issues in our menstrual health. So it’s a win-win situation.
The tricky bit can be figuring out interesting and tasty ways to include them in every day meals.
These are some of my favourites:
🥑Avocado on sourdough with toasted pumpkins seeds (or untoasted), chilli flakes and boiled/poached egg and/or halloumi
🥤Smoothie with blueberry, spinach, chia and flaxseeds, teaspoon of coconut oil, either collagen powder (I like Planet Paleo plain collagen) or a decent protein powder (Platinum L.O.V.E Chai Vanilla).
🍌Banana and tahini (for the sesame seeds) on sourdough with sunflower seeds (pictured above) with a good sprinkle of sea salt/pink Himalayan salt
Or for quicker options, add to porridge, yogurt and fruit or sprinkle on salads 🥗
#seedcyclingforwoman
#hormonalhealth
#nourishingfoods
#homeopathylifestyle
