Episode 20: I Was Skeptical of Seed Cycling, Here's What Actually Happened
Years ago when a naturopath first told me about seed cycling, I thought she was joking.
Flax and pumpkin seeds for the first half of your cycle, sesame and sunflower for the second half, to help balance your hormones? It sounded made up. That's exactly the face I made when someone told me about it too.
Turns out there's real research behind it. And turns out I was wrong to write it off.
How seed cycling actually works
From day one of your period through ovulation, you want a tablespoon each of flaxseed and pumpkin seeds. From ovulation through the start of your next period, it switches to a tablespoon each of sesame seeds (or chia, if sesame doesn't sit well with you) and sunflower seeds. If you're in perimenopause or menopause and not tracking a cycle anymore, tie it to the calendar month instead: days 1 through 14 get flax and pumpkin, the back half of the month gets sesame and sunflower.
The research behind it
This isn't just a wellness trend with no backing. Flax and pumpkin seeds support estrogen, which is what naturally rises in the first half of your cycle. Sesame and sunflower seeds support progesterone, which is what should rise in the second half. The nutrients line up with what your body is already trying to do.
What it won't do
Here's the part I want to be direct about. If your nutrition, sleep, or stress levels aren't already dialed in, seed cycling will not cover those gaps. One food swap is not going to solve everything. This isn't a stand-alone answer to hormone balance.
But if you're already doing the foundational work, maybe you're on natural progesterone or estrogen support, maybe you've already been through a root-cause process, and you're still feeling like something's not quite balanced, seed cycling can be the extra push that gets you there.
Who this is actually for
Any woman with a cycle, and any woman in menopause. It's not just for hormone balance either. If you want more fiber, protein, and healthy fat in your diet, this is an easy way to add it. I put mine in a smoothie.
If you're wondering what's actually going on with your hormones and want a clearer picture than guessing, the Feel Good Strategy Session is the place to start.
