Seed Cycling: A Recipe for Hormonal Balance and Menstrual Health

Seed cycling is a simple food-as-medicine technique that can help you regulate your menstrual cycle and balance hormones. It can also help with symptoms such as PMS, period pain, and hormonal or post-birth control acne. This involves eating two sets, each for one phase of your menstrual cycle, and then rotating them every other week.

Although it is a simple idea, some may not be consistent with seed cycling. Some would forget to include them in their food. Because of the deliciousness of nut butter balls, you began seed cycling regularly after discovering how to incorporate seeds into your meals. Although many patients see many benefits after just one month of seed cycling (which is common), it can take up to two months for the full effect.

How to Start a Seed Cycle

The follicular and luteal phases of your menstrual cycle are divided into two parts. Each phase lasts approximately 2 weeks. The follicular phase begins on the 1st day of your menstrual cycle. The luteal phase begins around 14 days after ovulation. It lasts until your next period.

You’ll eat seeds that support the production of estrogen and metabolism for the first half of your menstrual cycle (follicular). The seeds are good for progesterone production, and they also help to bolster the second half of your cycle (luteal phase).

This is how to rotate the seeds for each phase.

• Days 1 to 14: Take 1 tablespoon of each flax and pumpkin seed.

• Days 15 to 28: Consume 1 tablespoon of sunflower and sesame seed each.

How to use seeds in your food?

Although grinding seeds can help your body get the most out of the nutrients and fatty acids in them, you can still eat them whole. Freshly ground seeds are better than those that have been grinded. To prevent oils from going rancid, you can either grind the seeds up to two weeks ahead and store them in the freezer or add whole seeds to your recipe.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 cup nut butter/seed butter. Pumpkin seed butter is for the follicular phase, and sunflower seed butter or Tahini is for the luteal phase. You can use almond butter or another nut butter, too.
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 2 tbsp chia seeds
• 8 tbsp ground flaxseed (follicular phase). Use sunflower seeds to achieve the luteal phase.
• 6 tbsp hemp seed (follicular phase). For the luteal phase, you can use sesame seeds.
• 3 tbsp protein powder. You can also use Maca or Ashwagandha herbal powders.
• Additional hemp seeds can be added for the topping.

INSTRUCTIONS:

• All ingredients, except extra hemp seeds, should be added to a food processor. Blend until the ingredients are combined into a dough. Add more honey or nut butter to make the dough moister. If the dough is still too wet, add more protein powder.

• The mixture should be rolled into balls of 1 tbsp. Next, roll the balls in hemp seed.

• To harden the balls, place them in the refrigerator.

• To balance your hormones, eat 2-3 balls per day!