#Seed cycling professional#

“It’s like a natural multivitamin for your cycle,” Shah continues. “Those with conditions such as endometriosis, PCOS, and heavy, painful periods may see an improvement in their symptoms, too.” Wiggins also claims that seed cycling can help folks who have significantly shorter or longer periods than the average menstruating person, because the hormone balance they promote can regulate your cycle. “Seed cycling is great for younger women with irregular periods because it can help regulate them,” Wiggins says. There is, however, anecdotal evidence from those who engage in seed cycling and believe that it works. And the results of those studies are mixed at best. Research on seed cycling is practically non-existent, save for a handful of studies on pumpkin, flax, sunflower, and sesame seeds.

“It’s common for women to be estrogen-dominant, and if there is high estrogen in the second half of the cycle, it could lead to painful, heavy periods.” Sunflowers are high in vitamin E, which is thought to help with hormone balance. “Sesame helps block estrogen,” Wiggins explains. Sesame and sunflower seeds, which you ingest during the luteal phase, have different nutrients that support your body as you enter the second phase of your cycle. Pumpkin, on the other hand, is high in zinc and is believed to help support progesterone production and the release of the egg - which is the goal of the follicular phase. “We believe the fiber helps bind and block excess fiber,” Dr. “We’ve always thought of flax as mildly estrogenic in naturopathic,” Shah says. An imbalance in estrogen and progesterone can contribute to irregular cycles, a lack of a cycle, painful periods, and PMS.” How does it work?įlax, pumpkin, sesame, and sunflower seeds all contain lignans, which are thought to mimic the effects of estrogen in the body. “These two hormones are delicate and easily imbalanced with nutrient deficiencies, stress, the standard American diet, hidden pathogens, an unhealthy gut or permeable gut membrane, and even thyroid dysfunction. “Both estrogen and progesterone are involved in women’s cycles,” Peatross explains. During the luteal phase, which typically falls on days 15-28, you ingest a tablespoon each of ground sesame seeds and ground sunflower seeds.Īccording to nutritional medicine, these specific seeds are high in specific nutrients that reportedly help balance out the progesterone and estrogen that your body produces during your cycle. In a nutshell, you ingest four types of seeds throughout the course of your cycle to mitigate the symptoms of menstruation.ĭuring the follicular phase, which typically falls on days 1-14 of your cycle, you ingest a tablespoon each of ground flax seeds and ground pumpkin seeds. Aumatma Shah, founder of the Holistic Fertility Center and medical advisor at ELLEMENT, tells Woman's Day. “Seed cycling is the use of specific seeds during different phases of the menstrual cycle to help promote hormone imbalance,” Dr. So let’s take a deep dive into what seed cycling is, how it works, and whether or not it's for you. While there isn't a significant amount of research on the purported benefits of seed cycling and how it may or may not impact your hormones during menstruation, many people who use this method to curb period pain swear by it. “If you have irregular periods, painful periods, PMS, heavy flow, menopause symptoms, PCOS, endometriosis, or are coming off of birth control, then seed cycling might be for you,” Dr. And it is thought to produce significant outcomes. Seed cycling refers to the practice of ingesting certain types of seeds during the course of your menstrual cycle to help support hormone balance. It can be difficult, if not nearly impossible, to wade through the plethora of information about this alternative practice. So if you've heard of 'seed cycling' and have felt intrigued, confused, or a combination of both, know that you're not alone. It's also beneficial to educate yourself on specific medical claims, especially when it comes to menstruation health.

#Seed cycling professional#

Like any health care decision, it's best to consult a medical professional before significantly altering your diet, exercise routine, or anything else. There are a number of health claims and alternative medicine regimes circulating the internet - some good, some bad.