How Seed Cycling Supports Hormone Balance: A Naturopathic Guide to Wellness

You may have heard of “seed cycling” once or twice in your life, especially when you have problems with your menstrual cycle! Seed cycling (seed rotation diet) is an effective practice that can help regulate your hormone levels by eating specific seeds that contain beneficial properties during each phase of your menstrual cycle. 

The Power of Hormone Balance

​The primary hormones that drive menstrual cycles are estrogen, progesterone, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH), each of which play major roles in preparing your body physically and mentally for possible pregnancy or restarting your cycle once fertilization did not occur. As the level of these hormones fluctuate to signal another phase in your menstrual cycle, a simple disruption can inevitably lead to menstrual health problems, such as irregular periods, menstrual cramps, fatigue, pain, heavy bleeding, and acne (which we definitely do not want)! Hence, regulating your hormone levels is a top priority to prevent your body from having to experience pain and discomfort every month!

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How Seed Cycling Works

​Seed cycling follows a systematic approach of eating special seeds such as pumpkin, flax, sunflower, and sesame, at specific days throughout the month to help balance the hormones which regulate your menstrual cycle. During the follicular phase, pumpkin seeds are taken to balance out the increasing level of estrogen that primarily drives this phase, preventing excess production of estrogen that can trigger a wide array of menstrual problems. Pumpkin seeds are specifically rich in phytoestrogens, which are natural compounds that mimic the estrogen produced in your body!₁ These phytoestrogens can bind with estrogen receptors made for endogenous estrogens (produced by the body), thereby potentially regulating the processes driven by this hormone!!  
​Flax seeds, on the other hand, contain lignans, which act as a quality control officer and effectively regulate your hormone levels by binding to excess estrogen1 to prevent estrogen dominance.

As you enter the second phase of your menstrual cycle (luteal phase), eating sesame seeds and sunflower seeds can help boost and regulate progesterone, which is the hormone that is most essential during this phase of your cycle. Sesame seeds are beneficial as they are not only rich in zinc which boosts progesterone levels, but also lignans, which are effective in blocking off excessive amounts of estrogen to pave way for progesterone to play its part during the luteal phase.₁​ Sunflower seeds, on the other hand, are rich in vitamin E  and selenium, which help boost progesterone production and detoxify excess estrogen from your liver, respectively.₁​ 

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A note on preparation

The medicinal components of these seeds are fragile, especially flax. We recommend that you buy raw, organic seeds from your local bulk food or health food store that has frequent turnover to ensure freshness. Store the seeds in your fridge or freezer and grind them fresh daily (or up to weekly), storing the ground seeds in your freezer to protect the fragile oils. 
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How to use seed cycling

​Typical use is 1 Tablespoon of each seed indicated for the current phase of your cycle. These can be sprinkled on your food, like a power bowl or salad, blended in a smoothie, as a topping for yogurt or overnight oats, or eaten by the spoonful. One of our favorite methods is to add them to fat bombs or homemade chocolates for a sweet and satisfying treat!
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Don’t have a regular cycle? Many like to sync their cycle with the phases of the moon, starting the flax & pumpkin seeds with the new moon and switching to sunflower & sesame seeds with the full moon. Most notice their cycles begin to regulate and sync after about 3-4 months of consistent use. 

Here is a simple guide to help you start your seed cycling journey: 

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Helps Support Estrogen

Helps Support Progesterone

Supports PCOS & Insulin Sensitivity

Naturopathic Reminders
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Rather than forcefully introducing hormones into the body with medications or injectables, seed cycling takes a more holistic and fundamental approach by helping your body naturally produce and regulate your very own hormones! Simply put, seed cycling is considered a safe and non-invasive practice to regulate your hormone levels without putting yourself at risk of having side effects associated with synthetic products and medications containing estrogen or progesterone. 

However, the power of seed cycling comes from seeds that you may be allergic to! Additionally, the beneficial effects of seed cycling can only be achieved if you are consistent and willing to eat these special seeds every day, which may not be for everyone’s preference and lifestyle. Hence, it is vital to first talk with your naturopathic doctors before starting and continuing your seed cycling journey. At Natural Path to Wellness, we are committed to guiding you in your journey towards optimal health by working with you to create customized wellness plans that fit your goals and lifestyle. Talk to your naturopathic medicine advisors today!


REFERENCES:

1. Mahapatra D, Baro J, Das M. Advantages of seed cycling diet in menstrual dysfunctions: A review based explanation. The Pharma Innovation. 2023;12(4):931-939. doi:10.22271/tpi.2023.v12.i4k.19683