Though it sounds like the latest wellness fad, seed cycling has been practiced by certain communities for hundreds of years. Personally I am new to the practice of seed cycling, but as a wellness enthusiast I was curious to try to incorporate this faily easy and inexpensive practice into my daily routine.
Seed Cycling: What is it?
The philosophy of seed cycling is essentially different seeds contain different amounts of lignans and essential fatty acids which help balance women’s hormones. Flaxseeds, Chia Seeds, and Pumpkin Seeds support Estrogen, which is dominant during the follicular phase of a women’s cycle (days 1-14) where Sesame and Sunflower Seeds support the hormone Progesterone, a hormone dominant during the luteal phase of the cycle.
Benefits
As mentioned above, seed cycling is said to help balance women’s hormones. In conjunction with this, seed cycling improves:
· Acne
· PMS
· Irregular Cycles
· Infertility
· Peri-menopause
· Low libido
· Depression
DAY 1-14 OF CYCLE: Consume 1-2 Tbsp of ground flaxseed, chia seeds, or pumpkin seeds. (I personally add a Tbsp each of the flaxseed and chia seeds to my yogurt in the morning.)
DAY 15-28 OF CYCLE: Consume 1-2 Tbsp of sesame seeds or sunflower seeds. You can also use tahini or sunflower butter instead!
If you have a greatly irregular cycle in the first place, you can also follow the phases of the moon. Full moon phase would be your phase 1 and new moon phase would be phase 2. Please note that it is suggested that you give this at least 90 days to achieve results. I personally have just started trying this so stay tuned for updates!
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