Balanced happy hormones really are a Mums best friend. They help us to raise happy humans, calmer moods to deal with erupting tantrums as in the case in my house, sleep, fertility, mental, physical, and emotional energy, libido, clearer skin, stronger hair and our happy weight place. Pretty long list right!? Learning how to use seed cycling in your armour of happy hormones is a must for any struggling mums.
Hormones can be pretty tricky, and easily can get their noses out of joint (A bit like my 15 year old self). If we are not doing a few things to support them, giving them no excuses not to play fair and be in perfect balance. But hail above, when things go wrong, and they sometimes do we can be prepared. Turning to food which can be our medicine if allowed to be mother nature and mother moon are always my first ports to call to.
The role of seed cycling and hormones
Seed cycling was actually how I got started in my Menstrual cycle syncing journey many moons ago when I was experiencing my miscarriages from 2009-2014. How seed cycling works is the consumption of ground, if possible, seeds in your diet during different phases your female cycle. All these seeds have amazing health benefits (of course some may have a particular intolerance to seeds as some people have with different foods so pay attention to this). Different seeds have different nutritional properties and play a role in supporting healthy levels of specific hormones at the certain times of your cycle. What I love is how seed cycling can be used in our armour of happy hormones and can benefit Women of all ages in their hormonal health.
Which seeds do I take and in which phase of my cycle?
As I teach in my week 4-week self-study Align & Thrive course we have 4 phases to our cycle.
- The Menstrual phase.
- The Follicular phase.
- The ovulatory phase.
- The luteal phase.
Seed cycling focus on boosting oestrogen levels during the first 2 phases, and boosting progesterone levels and oestrogen metabolization during the next 2 phases.
- During the first 2 phases, I recommend eating 1 tablespoon of both ground flaxseeds and pumpkin seeds which are rich in phytoestrogens, a natural source form of oestrogen. I mention ground as its easier on the digestive system to extract the nutrients and kinder on digestion.
- During the next 2 phases I recommend eating 1 table spoon of both sesame and sunflower( The power of the 2 S’s) containing zinc (sesame)and Vit E (sunflower) both needed for the production of progesterone which we cannot get alone from food.
Why are we experiencing unbalanced hormones?
My opinion on this and I know also shared by others is that we are living in a very different world then perhaps our grandparents, maybe even our parents were. In some cases, this is a positive. Except in the case of our hormonal health as women today. In an ideal world as women, we would have an ideal ratio of oestrogen & progesterone which ebbs and flows through the month. However, our role as women and mums has changed through the years. We are constantly juggling stressors, including environmental toxins, food toxicity digestive issues, a rise in food intolerances, and of course the crutch a lot of us have relied on to get through over the 2 years is more alcohol and coffee consumption. All of which can send us into hormonal chaos.
That is why my word of the year is progress not perfection. If we can focus on some small changes through food, movement and mindset we can steer our hormones towards a space that is kinder to you, especially if you’re heading into or already in your 40’s. Seed cycling is a simple way to get started on nourishing your body.
Is seed cycling for me?
If you are experiencing sign of low oestrogen or oestrogen dominance which could also mean low progesterone, then my answer is yes. How we support each phase of our cycle with food including seed cycling could have a balancing effect on the above. Of course, this is not some magic spell, there are several other factors we need to address. But this is a great way to start introducing you to how to balance and support your hormones through food and mother nature.
Ways to work with me
- Book a free no obligation hormone clarity call
- Buy my 4-week self-paced Align & Thrive cycle syncing course.
- Join my 3 month Nourish Move & Thrive group Programme.
Don’t forget to join my FREE Facebook members group
Disclaimer-All the information here is not medical advice. Please be advised if you have any particular disease or are being treated to always get advice from your practitioner.