Guest Blog From Kate Morton, RDN
There are lots of posts online these days about seed cycling, but what is it? If you are interested in period health, listen up – this one is for you. Seed cycling uses real food (flax, pumpkin, sesame, and sunflower seeds) to work with your body to support your hormones and menstrual cycle. As you move through your cycle, your curated seed blends will help your body receive micronutrients to counteract your PMS and other hormonal symptoms.
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Understanding your menstrual cycle:
Menstrual Phase
- First day of your true bleed
- Hormones are low & energy can be low
Follicular Phase
- Starts when you stop bleeding and ends when you ovulate.
- Estrogen is rising and your energy may be too!
Ovulatory Phase
- Your eggs released for ovulation.
- Your hormones are peaking and energy is high
Luteal Phase:
- After ovulation until your next period.
- Progesterone is the dominant hormone.
As you can see above, there is a lot going on in your body throughout the month so it would make sense that you would need to shift your nutrition with your hormones to nourish those changes. So how does seed cycling fit into this?
The Menstrual + Follicular Phase
When:
- Days 1-14 of your cycle – during this phase, you need a balanced amount of estrogen to build the uterine lining.
What seeds?
- Pumpkin seeds are rich in zinc, which aids in progesterone production and supports healthy testosterone levels. They’re also rich in antioxidants, which help protect your ovaries, eggs, and reproductive system as a whole.
- Flax seeds contain lignans, which aid in estrogen release, meaning they bind excess estrogen and help eliminate it to support ideal estrogen levels.
- Both flax and pumpkin seeds are rich in omega-3 fats, which encourage uterine blood flow and maintain healthy cell membranes.
How much?
- 2 Tablespoons total, ideally ground for better absorption
The Luteal Phase
When:
- Days 15-28 of your cycle – during this phase, the corpus luteum starts to release progesterone, which is a sex hormone that helps thicken the uterine lining and prepare it for implantation.
What seeds?
- Sesame seeds are rich in zinc, which aids in progesterone production. They also contain lignans, which help block excess estrogen, and they have a slew of other benefits, including the ability to lower inflammation.
- Sunflower seeds contain selenium, which helps improve liver function and remove excess estrogen. They also contain vitamin E, which stimulates progesterone production.
How much?
- 2 Tablespoons total, ideally ground for better absorption
BUT DOES IT WORK?
Productive Mama here: I was skeptical. I’d heard about this many years ago, but the idea of grinding seeds daily didn’t seem like something I could add to my life. So when I saw these Wellness Kits and that they kept the ground seeds fresh, I finally decided to try it.
I was really surprised by my results! I don’t have horrible periods but I’ve had obvious signs of perimenopause. I saw there was a perimenopause blend, but since I’m pretty sure I’m still ovulating, I was advised to stick with the two blends. After my FIRST MONTH, my cycle lengthened, one of the typical changes as women get older. And it’s remained as such, UNLESS I SLACK ON MY SEEDS! This is where the ease of the Funk It Wellness Kits come in.
My periods have been consistently mild in the cramp department, as well. I have also had a reduction in cyst pain. I also do some herbs to support my hormones, but have always done something in this area, depending on my phase of life.
So, If you are interested in trying seed cycling check out Funk It Wellness’s kits that were designed by a dietitian and are 100% organic and Non GMO!
You have nothing to lose! You will be eating real, nutritious food, so you’ll gain nutrition and you may even ease your hormonal aches and struggles!
Do you have experience to share regarding seed cycling? I’d love to hear it!
