Does Seed Cycling Work for Hormone Balancing?

There are many ups and downsides to motherhood. There are blessings and joys, but there is also stress (both mentally and physically). We also experience the ups-and-downs of our monthly cycles. Some women try to help themselves with this by seed cycling. The hormonal cycle. 

Our hormones are a complex system that’s easily thrown off balance. Whether life gets stressful or we aren’t eating as we should, it all takes a toll on our hormones. That’s not to mention endocrine disruptors PlasticsThe environment!

Does seed cycling work? How do you do it, and does it actually work?

What is seed cycling?

The term “seed cycling” refers to eating certain seeds during each of the two phases of your menstrual cycle. It’s a natural method for women to balance hormones, boost fertility, and even ease the transition into menopause.  

In seed cycling, four kinds of seeds are used: pumpkin seeds, flax seeds and sesame. sunflower seeds. Women are given a teaspoon of each seed at this time. 

The two seeds rich in phytoestrogen (flax, pumpkin) should be eaten during the first estrogen-dominant phase of the cycle. This begins on the first day and continues through the 13th or 14th day of your period. Zinc in pumpkin seedsAlso helps to prepare the body for the production of progesterone in the next phase.

Every day, add one tablespoon ground flax seed and one tablespoon ground pumpkin seeds to yogurt, hot cereal, or smoothies. 

The progesterone-promoting seeds (sesame and sunflower) are eaten during the secondPhase of the cycle.  This phase is naturally progesterone-dominant. The second phase begins at ovulation, which is usually day 14, and lasts until the day prior to your next period. 

These examples are based upon a 28-day period. Some women’s cycles are longer, while others are shorter. It is important to change seeds when ovulation occurs.

What is the idea behind seed cycling? 

The idea behind seed-cycling is that flax and pumpkins seeds, which are rich in estrogens, help the ovaries to raise estrogen levels. It happens during the first two-thirds of the month. 

Sesame and sunflower seeds support progesterone levels in the second half month.

Estrogen and progesterone are the two primary hormones that govern women’s health. They also cause a lot of problems when they’re Out of Balance. This is a common problem. You might be familiar with breast cancer that is estrogen receptor positive. 

Also, estrogen levels can fall too low. As women age, estrogen levels decrease. But sometimes too quickly or too drastically.

Health Benefits of Seed Cycle

Seed cycling is reported to help with the following:

• Premenstrual syndrome symptoms include cramps, bloating and other PMS symptoms
• Acne
• Periods that are irregular
• Hormone imbalance
• Estrogen dominance
• Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
• Endometriosis
• Infertility
• Menopause and perimenopause symptoms include hot flashes (flashes of heat), fatigue, mood swings and night sweats.

It is possible to make money by seed cycling. Hormonal birth controlRegain your natural hormonal levels.

How Effective is Seed Cycling? 

Research has not caught up with the claims of many women who report benefiting from seed cycling. Research has been done on the hormone benefits of seeds. Research is also available on the nutrients that they contain. Included in this is magnesium. SeleniumHere are some examples of supporting research: Here are some examples of research that supports the claims: 

Flax Seed

Flax seeds contain lignans, phytochemicals. Lignans can have estrogen-promoting as well as estrogen-limiting effects. They can help balance estrogen levels, whether they’re too high or too low. 

The small The clinical trial found that eating flax seed powder helped balance women’s progesterone to estrogen ratio. It also helped restore ovulation in women who didn’t ovulate. 

Pumpkin Seed

Pumpkin seeds also contain lignans, flavones and other compounds that improve hormonal balance. Study from 2013Pumpkin seed extract was found to lower estrogen receptor activity. The pumpkin seed extract also increased progesterone and estrogen receptor activity. The researchers found that pumpkin seeds could reduce the risk of breast cancer.

Zinc is found in pumpkin seeds. Zinc is essential for Normal reproductionBoth women and men have cycles. It aids in the metabolism of estrogen, progesterone and androgen (testosterone).

Sesame Seed 

The microbiome in the gut converts sesame-lignan to a compound known as enterolactone. This compound increases estrogens. This compound is estrogen-promoting. Randomized controlled trial Women postmenopausal tested sesame powder’s effects. Sesame treatment increased blood levels of sex-hormone binding globulin. The same was true for an estrogen called hydroxyestrone. Researchers found sesame can improve hormone levels in postmenopausal woman.

Sunflower Seed

Another studyEating sunflower seeds has been linked to a lower risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal females. This was again due to phytoestrogens, lignans and sunflower seeds.

Seed Cycling: How to Do it

According to the cycle, women who menstruate are instructed to consume one tablespoon of freshly grounded seeds per day. The first phase of the cycle (the follicular period) is flax and Pumpkin seeds. In the second phase, also known as luteal phase, sunflower and sesame seed are used.

It is easy to remember the order of seeds by alphabetical ordering. You eat the F & P seeds at the beginning of the month, while the S & S are for the last two weeks of the month. 

For postmenopausal women, it’s recommended to follow the phases of the moon cycle instead. Women’s cycles were thought to originally sync with the lunar cycles of the moon. Research suggests that the more artificial blue light at night and hormone disruptors we’re exposed to, the more we stray from this rhythm. So, if you’re no longer cyclic, just let the moon be your guide.

The new moon is the day 1 in this case. Phase one ends with the full-moon. (That’s when natural ovulation should take place.) That’s your signal to switch from flax and pumpkin to sunflower and sesame. 

Recipes that are a little bit naughty

You can use many different methods to plant your seeds. Here are some ideas:

You can even make a “seed butter” out of them and smear it on apples. Enjoy the process and be creative! I try to soak nuts and some seeds before using (not flax, chia or chia). here’s why.

Find healthy seeds

If you’re interested in trying seed cycling, I recommend getting organic when possible. Some brands even sell presoaked seeds and nuts. You can buy organic sprouted nuts. Pumpkin and sunflower seedsYou can find one of my favorite brands here. There are also a variety of other products. Organic flaxseeds. This brand carries bulk herbs and I can get them from them. Organic sesame seeds too. 

Seed Cycling – The Bottom Line

While there isn’t currently research to back up the entire protocol, we do know the benefits of each individual seed. Countless women have done this protocol with great success, it’s just a matter of sticking with it for a few months straight. 

Experts in wellness claim that it takes three to four months for the benefits to be felt. There aren’t any known side effects of seed cycling – unless you’re allergic to any of the seeds. If you’re not allergic, it might be worth a shot.

Have you ever tried seed cycling before?  What is your experience? Please share your experience with us!