What's the Deal with Seed Cycling for Hormone Health?

At some point you’ve likely come across articles on the benefits of seed cycling for regulating menstrual cycles. 

Seed cycling is a protocol where you consume specific seed combinations during different phases of your menstrual cycle to regulate cycles and balance your hormones. But overall, the science is a bit mixed. 

Anecdotally, I have a lot of women and naturopath colleagues who have a lot of success with this protocol and if something is working for someone and it’s not harmful, I don’t feel the need to change things up... BUT, for many people compliance is an issue. 

It’s A LOT of seeds and can be tough to remember which seeds for which phase of your cycle. 

The logic behind seed cycling is that by eating certain seeds at different phases of your cycle. The lignans, fatty acids, and micronutrients are thought to  ‘balance; your estrogen and progesterone levels. 

Each seed type contains different amounts of lignans and fatty acids and thus rotation of the seeds throughout the month provides the body with the variety of hormonal precursors it needs to establish healthy hormonal cycles. This protocol also uses EPO (Evening Primrose Oil) containing GLA, which helps to decrease PMS symptoms. 

Here’s the basic protocol: 

During the first half of your cycle, aka: the Follicular Phase (Days 4-14): 

You want to support estrogen production. Take 2 tablespoons each: 

• Ground pumpkin seeds

• Ground  flax seeds daily

• 3 grams of fish oil 

During the second half of your cycle, aka: the Luteal Phase (Days 15-28): 

To boost progesterone after ovulation. Take 2 tablespoons each:

• Ground sunflower seeds

• Ground sesame seeds 

• 1 gram of EPO oil 

• 3 grams of fish oil 

If your cycles are Irregular:

Take 3 tablespoons of ground sunflower or sesame seeds everyday + 1 gram of EPO oil and 1.5 grams of fish oil until your cycle regulates (~3-6 months) then switch to the protocol above.

As always, check with your provider before starting any new supplementation regimen.

But if you want to try seed cycling, it’s a safe strategy and you may see some improvements in your cycles, but it takes time and commitment.

I’m more of a believer that all seeds are good seeds!

There are multiple studies to show that seeds are very nutritious foods overall and may have a small positive impact on hormones:

• Vitamin E and omega 3- and omega-6 fatty acids, which are found in flax seeds, sesame, pumpkin, and sunflower seeds are essential for hormone production and improve ovarian follicular function.

• Zinc, present in pumpkin and sesame seeds, helps to improve the formation of the corpus luteum, boosts progesterone levels, and gets the endometrium prepped for implantation.

• Seeds are also rich in selenium which supports ovulation and fertility, as well as liver detoxification phases. Zinc and selenium are also helpful nutrients for supporting thyroid health. 

• And lignans, which flax and sesame seeds are especially rich in, are converted to enterolactones by healthy gut flora, and helps to keep your estrogen levels healthy.

Have you tried seed cycling? I’d love to hear your experience!