Seed Cycling is a hormone balancing practice; it’s one of the most popular wellness practices among women. Many famous bloggers have tried it and Instagram has many bloggers mentioning their experience with seed cycling as well.
To start with, let us speak about woman’s hormones. A woman’s hormones are a complex system that functions in a delicate balance. And these hormones are greatly influenced by our diet, exercise, sleep, stress levels, and environmental toxins. This means that any of these factors can easily affect our hormonal balance. And these hormonal imbalances are responsible for a number of health concerns, including irregular periods, acne, PCOS, thyroid disorders, chronic fatigue, etc.
So Seed cycling is a process that can support your hormones in a gentle, yet effective way. This simple practice helps in balancing hormone levels, reduces PMS symptoms, boosts fertility, and can help stimulate menstruation in amenorrhea (Complete absence of menstruation).
Let us talk more about seed cycling in detail.
Table of Contents
Seed Cycling is the practice of supplementing your diet with seeds like sunflower seeds, pumpkin, flax, and, sesame. This helps to promote a healthy balance of estrogen and progesterone levels. It’s a completely natural way that helps in balanced hormones.
Also, seed cycling can be used at any stage of a woman’s life (including post-menopause). But it’s especially beneficial when coming off of hormonal birth control or struggling with post-birth control syndrome symptoms like acne, irregular periods or missing periods, PCOS or PMS.
For a better understanding of how seed cycling works, First you need to understand the two main phases of your menstrual cycle.
The first 14 days of your menstrual cycle make up the follicular phase, while the following 14 days make up the luteal phase. When your hormone levels are balanced, estrogen rises during the first half of your cycle whereas progesterone levels rise (while estrogen levels slowly decline) during the second half of your cycle.
An imbalance between estrogen and progesterone can contribute to PMS symptoms, menstrual cramps, acne, short luteal phases, anovulation, irregular cycles, and amenorrhea.
A full lunar cycle is 28 days and so is the women’s menstrual cycle. Ancient knowledge says that we were made in accordance with the moon’s cycle. The belief is that we would be at our peak fertility or would be ovulating during the full moon(brightest nights) and low fertility during the new moon(darkest nights).
During the first phase of the menstrual cycle (follicular phase), pumpkin seeds and flax seeds help improve our estrogen levels while preventing excess estrogen. Flax seeds contain lignans which bind to excess estrogen. Pumpkin seeds are high in zinc which helps support progesterone production as you move towards the progesterone rise in the second phase of your cycle.
During the second phase of your cycle (luteal phase), sesame seeds and sunflower seeds help boost progesterone production. The two seeds are ground and eaten raw. Whole seeds will have difficulty in absorption into the body, hence it is recommended to eat them in the ground powder form.
Sesame seeds are a rich source of zinc which helps boost progesterone production and also contain lignans that help block excess estrogen while progesterone rises. Sunflower seeds are high in vitamin E and selenium. Vitamin E can help boost progesterone production, while selenium helps detox the liver of excess estrogen.
Flax seeds are considered phytoestrogens, which have a weak estrogen-like effect in the body. This naturally supports healthy estrogen production and Flax seeds contain lignans which is good for estrogen binding. Some research shows that flax seeds help in lengthening the luteal phase, improving ovulation, and reducing common PMS symptoms such as breast pain and cramping.
Sesame seeds also contain lignans which help to block excess estrogen during the second phase of your menstrual cycle when progesterone rises. Research shows that sesame seeds are beneficial for postmenopausal women by improving blood lipids, antioxidants, and sex hormones.
Pumpkin and sesame seeds both contain high levels of zinc. This mineral helps to improve the formation of the corpus luteum in the uterus. The corpus luteum is responsible for producing progesterone and stimulates the uterus to thicken in preparation for potential implantation.
Both flax seeds and pumpkin seeds are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3s promote blood flow to the uterus, increase progesterone secretion, and help maintain healthy cell membranes. In addition, Vitamin E has been linked to reducing PMS symptoms. Research also shows that Vitamin E, omega-3s, and omega-6s found in pumpkin, sesame, sunflower, and flax seeds are essential for hormone production and follicle function.
Sunflower seeds are high in the trace mineral selenium, and support estrogen detoxification in the liver. This helps reduce excess estrogen during the luteal phase when estrogen declines and progesterone rises.
Good things take time so, seed cycling takes time to show results in your body. It can take at least three months of daily use to start noticing the benefits. Keeping a journal to track your symptoms throughout the month can help you identify the shifts happening over the months. And if you are planning to follow this practice for a long time, then it’s totally up to you. There is no harm in eating these seeds every day.
Since I was diagnosed with PCOS about 7 years back, I have always had irregular periods. I have tried every remedy available including the prescribed hormonal pills to induce periods. The pills did help me get my periods for a month or 2 and then the same story continued. Some of the side effects of these pills included weight gain and cystic acne. Cystic acne for me was the worst as it made me self-conscious and also reduced my confidence.
There were times when I just didn’t want to look at myself in the mirror.
On one such day, I came upon a youtube video mentioning “seed cycling and its benefits for PCOS”. I immediately googled the keyword and came across many articles on how seed cycling helped them clear up their acne and also regulate their menstrual cycles.
So, I finally decided to give it a try.
Since my periods were very unpredictable, I started with flax seeds and pumpkin seeds on the first day of my periods till the 14th day and then swapped them with sesame and sunflower seeds.
My acne slowly started to clear up and I got my periods in around 35 days which is rare. I also had fewer premenstrual symptoms and there were little to no clots in my blood flow.
I also had lesser mood swings and felt light on my stomach. I always used to feel bloated and after incorporating seeds into my diet, my motions also seemed to be more regular(thanks to the fiber content in seeds).
Most importantly, my emotions were under control. My skin felt soft unlike before.
I cannot give all the credit to seed cycling as I also made some lifestyle changes like going for whole foods, regular exercise, and trying to stay away from processed and junk food as much as possible.
Cutting down on dairy has personally helped me a lot.
As you can see, my acne has cleared a lot, and coming to periods, they have improved. I am yet to see the perfect 28-day cycle.
If you are also looking for a safer alternative to metformin, then check out the below article.
Read: Myo Inositol for PCOS Benefits & Best Inositol Supplement Brands
Ans) Seed cycling is a natural hormone balancing therapy that works in accordance with the moon’s phases. It doesn’t have any serious side effects.
Generally, imbalanced hormones show up on the skin as acne, and regularly incorporating these seeds in your diet like the way mentioned can help your hormones. Balanced hormones result in clear and acne-free skin.
Whole seeds can be difficult to digest. Hence, it is very important to grind the seeds as it makes digestion easier. By grinding seeds, all the nutrients are properly absorbed by the body.
Seed cycling balances the female hormones – progesterone and estrogen which are necessary for fertility. This results in increasing your chances of conceiving naturally.
PCOS is caused due to hormonal imbalance as well. And, seed cycling can indeed support balancing the hormones naturally.
Yes, you can safely consume seeds during pregnancy. One of the main benefits you get from seed cycling during pregnancy is its nutritional benefits. The seeds have a lot of fiber which makes them the best addition to your diet.
Buy all the required seeds below by clicking on the links.
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View Comments
This seems to be an amazing article for information regarding hormonal balance
This is a very new information I have come to know about harmonal imbalance. Keep it up.
Amazing had no clue about seed cycling before
It is so knowledgeable
Such an informative and interesting article ❤
Such an informative article .. I love to eat seeds but never knew these many benefits and aspects of it .. you explained it pretty well ..
I am so happy knowingly and unknowingly I imbibed see cycling in my life . Thank you for this bold and the details covered ... informative and handy ❤️
This is truely amazing .. I already eat seeds coz I love em .. and theres benefits too amazing
Amazing article learned so much...had no idea about seed cycle befire
Very informative post on this issue...there are women who face issues but never talk about it...I hope this post reaches them