How Eating Seeds Can Help Your Hormone Health
Can the nutrition trend of ‘seed cycling’ – or eating seeds every day – be the key to happier hormones?
Mood swings, bloating and painful cramps can all be caused by your hormones. But now there’s a trend called “seed cycling” that’s growing in popularity. Seed cycling involves eating a serving of seeds everyday and it’s designed to be a drug-free way to get your delicate hormones back on track.
Many women’s hormone levels are influenced by what’s going on in their life. Poor sleep, poor diet and stress can all affect cell inflammation and cause poor liver function. In turn, these can affect PMS, and your menstrual cycle.
Seed cycling is gentle, drug-free and the ingredients are easy to buy at any market or supermarket. You can sprinkle the seeds on cereal, mix into salads, smoothies, stir fries or porridge – whatever works for you.
It’s important to know that regular menstrual cycles are organised in phases. The first follicular phase occurs after the first day of your period and continues for approximately the first 14 days. Then comes the second phase, the luteal phase. This lasts from approximately day 15 to day 28.
But this division is a rough guide because some women naturally have longer or shorter menstrual cycles. Some cycles are 21 days, others are 25, others are 28. As long as your period cycle is regular, and normal for you, that’s okay.
To do seed cycling, you need to split your menstrual cycle into two parts or phases.
These phases of your menstrual cycle are controlled by hormones. Mostly oestrogen and progesterone – and that is where seed cycling happens.
Hormones rely on minerals, vitamins and fatty acids to be produced and used by the body. By eating seeds that contain certain minerals, you can give the body the kind of minerals and vitamins it needs and this can help regulate your hormones.
But you need to be patient, because you need to do seed cycling for three to four months before you start to notice an impact on your hormones. Some women find it can take 12 months to restore balance to hormones that are very out of whack.
In this stage we are focusing on balancing oestrogen. High oestrogen can lead to mood swings, food cravings, cramps and heavy periods. Low levels of oestrogen can also impact your nutrition.
Hemp seeds: take 1 tablespoon daily (or 1 Chinese soup spoon)
Hemp seeds contain omega 3, vitamin B6 and zinc, which help to regulate hormones. Hemp seeds also contain magnesium, which alleviates cramps. You can find hemp seeds at health food stores.
Ground flax seeds: take 1 tablespoon daily
Flax seeds are rich in omega 3, zinc and phytoestrogens. The fatty acids in flax seeds deteriorate quickly when exposed to air. So it’s best to buy the seeds whole and grind them yourself in a spice grinder or pound the in a mortar and pestle. You can keep the whole flax seeds in the freezer to stop the oxidising.
Whole pumpkin seeds: take 1 tablespoon daily
Whole pumpkin seeds are also known as Pepitas. They contain tryptophan. Your body uses this to make the happy hormones that make you feel calm.
Sesame seeds: take 1 tablespoon daily
Sesame seeds are full of sinc, calcium, magnesium and selenium. These minerals help keep your liver health and happy.
Sunflower seeds: take 1 tablespoon raw seeds daily
Sunflower seeds are high in the hormone-boosting B vitamins. These are also rich in vitamin E, which is used by the body to make the hormone progesterone. They also contain fatty acids that help to ease PMS symptoms.
Text: Bauer Syndication /Are Media