Seed cycling is a growing trend that is said to balance hormones and boost fertility. It involves eating different types of seeds during different times of your menstrual cycle to balance your hormones. Seed cycling essentially balances the estrogen hormone in the first half of your menstrual cycle and the progesterone hormone in the other half of your cycle. It’s also known to reduce the effects of menopause. If you don’t have a regular cycle you can use the moon cycle to guide you. It takes about three to six months for you to start seeing results.
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How to start seed cycling
Day 1 to Day 14 (New moon to Full moon)
This is considered the follicular phase of your cycle where your body increases the release of estrogen in preparation for ovulation. Ovulation occurs on the 14th day of a 28-day cycle. During this phase eat 1 to 2 tablespoons of raw organic freshly ground flax seeds and pumpkin seeds. They help in naturally increasing your estrogen due to the high fiber content without causing excessive production. These seeds can also reduce the production of estrogen if your body is producing it in excess.
Day 15 to Day 28 (Full moon to New moon
This is the luteal phase of your cycle where your body produced progesterone to help thicken your uterus lining in preparation for pregnancy. If your egg is not fertilized you get your period and your uterus lining will shed during your period. During this phase eat 1 to 2 tablespoons of raw organic freshly ground sunflower and sesame seeds. The progesterone hormone reduces PMS symptoms. The sesame seeds help in preventing excessive production of the estrogen hormone while the sesame seeds help in boosting the progesterone hormone.
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Start with one tablespoon then move to two tablespoons of the seeds. They all have a lot of fibre which can cause bloating.
How to add seed cycling to your diet
Seed cycling works best when the seeds are raw and freshly ground because of the increased surface area to enhance absorption into the body. Here are the various ways you can add it to your diet:
- Add it to your oatmeal
- Sprinkle it in your yogurt
- Add it to your salad
- Blend it into your smoothie
- Mix the ground seeds in your salad dressing