Seed Cycling for Hormone Balancing

Written By Dr. Sara Kela

Don’t you just hate those heavy periods that come with acne, headaches, mood swings, bloating and sore breasts? Don’t you hate having irregular cycles? Well, there is a solution to those symptoms! One of them being seed cycling! Seed cycling is an easy way to help balance out your hormones. 


Your menstrual cycle has two phases. First being the follicular phase, which starts the first day of your period and lasts about 14 day when ovulation occurs. The second phase is the the luteal phase, which starts on day 15 and lasts until your period starts again. During the follicular phase estrogen rises and becomes dominant and during the luteal phase your progesterone rises and becomes dominant. During both phases your testosterone levels remains relatively constant, except around ovulation. When your hormones are not balanced, you will experience some of the premenstrual syndrome (PMS).

Most women are estrogen dominant, which means that estrogen to progesterone ratio is too high, experience symptoms such as, anxiety, insomnia, fatigue and weight gain. Balancing your hormones is very important because they have an affect on your metabolism and overall well-being. 

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So what is seed cycling? 

Seed cycling allows you to use food as medicine. You eat different seeds that contains nutrients that help increases your hormones during the phases of the cycle. 

During your follicular phase, you eat freshly ground flaxseeds (https://amzn.to/2ZCcBxn) and raw pumpkin seed (https://amzn.to/2ZCDQb9) . Adding flax seeds into your smoothies, non-dairy yogurt, or nut butters. Pumpkin seeds can be eaten plain or also added to salads or soups. 

Flaxseed nutritional benefits: 

  • Contain lignans, which is an antioxidant with fiber-like benefits

  • Contains selenium, which is another powerful antioxidant and an important nutrient for the thyroid

  • Contains omega-3-fatty acid, which plays a role in regulating estrogen levels

  • Good source of magnesium, which helps with detoxing excess estrogen

Pumpkin seed nutritional benefits: 

  • Contains fiber to bind excess estrogen

  • Good source of magnesium and zinc, which are powerful antioxidants to help with menstrual cramps

  • Naturally helps balance estrogen levels

  • Good source of iron

During the luteal you eat sesame seeds (https://amzn.to/2VoxH3b) and sunflower seeds (https://amzn.to/2W8v5U1). Sesame seeds can be added to many dishes and be made in tahini for dips or salad dressings. Sunflower seeds can be added to smoothies or you can eat sunflower seed butter (https://amzn.to/2GNEsU1).

Sesame seeds nutritional benefits: 

  • Good source of magnesium, zinc and selenium

  • Metabolizes estrogen, which allows progesterone to take over during this phase

Sunflower seeds nutritional benefits: 

  • Good source of B-vitamins, which are important for regulating estrogen and progesterone and the detoxification pathways

  • Good source of Vitamin E, which is a powerful antioxidant

Overall seed cycling gives your body the appropriate nutrients to help regulate your hormones to prevent those PMS symptoms!


Dr. Sara Kela