Hey! Are you among those who either miss their periods every month or have irregular periods? Do you regularly suffer from overgrown facial hair, acne, or hair loss? If your answer is yes, then this article is just the thing for you.
Have you heard of seed cycling before? It is especially beneficial for those of you who struggle with hormonal imbalances including PMS, PCOS, irregular periods, infertility, or any other hormone-related symptoms. Nutrition plays an important role in every individual overall health and incorporating this seed cycle in your schedule will make sure you get enough of everything.
A hormonal imbalance not only shows up in physical health but also affects a person’s mental health and gives rise to mood swings. This article is all about regularising your menstrual cycle. If you’ll include the seed cycle in your daily diet, your other symptoms like facial hair, acne, and irregular periods will eventually end.
Our hormones fluctuate throughout the month and certain nutrients and foods, if included in our diet, can ease this hormonal imbalance. Seed cycling is a process in which seeds like pumpkin, sesame, sunflower, and it includes flaxseeds in your daily diet. They help regularise your periods and other symptoms of hormonal imbalance. These seeds are like tiny packages of nutrients with a unique blend of vitamins, minerals, protein, healthy fat, and fiber.
Seed cycling is a practice that naturally balances sex hormones (progesterone and estrogen) by supplying our body with certain nutrients at specific times of the month. This ultimately regulates a person’s menstrual cycle, eases PMS, and increases fertility.
THE PROCESS OF SEED CYCLING:
Two phases of your menstrual cycle, called follicular and luteal phases, play a major role in what type of seeds you need to consume-
1. FIRST PHASE (FOLLICULAR PHASE: DAYS 1-14)
The follicular phase begins on day 1 of your menstruation. During this time, estrogen levels steadily increase to prepare for ovulation. To keep estrogen levels in balance, take 1 tbsp ground flax seeds that contain phytoestrogen, and 1 tbsp ground pumpkin seeds, as they are high in zinc.
This will support the production of progesterone in the next luteal phase. These two seeds work to detox any excess estrogen while preparing the body for adequate progesterone production in the second half of the cycle. Excess estrogen leads to anxiety, heavier periods, fatigue, low libido, and many other unwanted symptoms. Along with these seeds, you can also include food items like broccoli, oats, avocado, citrus fruits, eggs, and sauerkraut.
2. SECOND PHASE (LUTEAL PHASE: DAYS 15-28)
The luteal phase starts after you ovulate and goes on till your next period. In this phase, estrogen levels drop after ovulation, and progesterone levels steadily rise to build up the uterine lining. Progesterone has natural anti-anxiety properties. It is a mood relaxation chemical (GABA) and balances out estrogen levels that would have gone up during the first half of your cycle.
In this phase, take 1 tbsp ground sesame seeds, as they are high in selenium and zinc, and 1 tbsp ground sunflower seeds, as they are high in vitamin E, to support your progesterone levels. Along with the seeds, you can also include food items like Brussel sprouts, raspberries, fennel, eggplant, okra, turmeric, pistachios, amaranth, dandelion, endive, berries, and radish.
MOON CYCLE:
Women’s hormone cycles are usually of 28-30days, which is in parallel with the full lunar cycle. Their fertility rate is high during the full moon and the lowest during the new moon days. If you have an irregular cycle (amenorrhea), postpartum or post-menopause, follow the moon cycle and begin at the start of the new moon. Consider 1st day of the new moon as your 1st day of the follicular phase and consume 1 tbsp ground flax and pumpkin seeds for 14 days. Start taking 1 tbsp ground sesame seeds and 1 tbsp ground sunflower seeds for the next 14 days, considering it as the luteal phase, i.e. the full moon days.
HOW TO INCORPORATE SEEDS:
Here are a few examples of how you can incorporate these seeds into your daily diet. You can always try them in any recipe based on your taste. Some examples are-
● Smoothies
● Oats
● Salads
● Eggs
● Veggies
● Seed balls
● Toast
POINT TO BE NOTED:
All seeds should be raw and freshly ground as it helps in easy digestion and better absorption. It also helps get the maximum benefits out of them. Seeds should be fresh as the oils in these seeds oxidize easily. Try seed cycling for at least 3 months (or 3 cycles) to get the most benefit and to experience clear results. It is not a remedy that will work overnight and give you immediate results. Also, to distress yourself, try yoga or meditation. Try to get 6-8 hours of peaceful, undisturbed sleep every day.
