When it comes to hormones, it can seem as if Black women are fighting a constant battle. PCOS is one of the most common reproductive endocrinological disorders among Black women. By age 50, approximately 80 percent of Black women will have fibroids, compared to 70 percent of white women.
With that knowledge, living a hormonally balanced life may be a top priority. That includes eating detoxifying foods that support regulation and eliminating as many endocrine disruptors as possible. More and more teas, herbs, supplements, and tinctures that can support the reproductive system are also being discovered. The latest is seed cycling. If you’re curious and looking for a natural method to get your body regulated, here’s everything to know about the practice. Plus, how it can transform your hormones.
What Is Seed Cycling?
A naturopathic remedy that’s been used since ancestral times, seed cycling is a practice that balances estrogen and progesterone levels. It involves eating flax and pumpkin seeds during the first half of the menstrual cycle. Sunflower and sesame seeds are eaten during the second half.
While it may seem like a minor change, the science within the cycling adds up. The phytoestrogens, zinc, selenium, and vitamin E in each set of seeds aid in supporting the progesterone and estrogen production needed to have a regulated cycle. Additionally, during menopause, levels of estrogen and progesterone decrease. This leads to bothersome symptoms like hot flashes, weight gain and disruptive sleep. Seed cycling can balance out your levels and fill in any missing hormonal gaps.
For those with a timely cycle, eat 1 tablespoon of ground flax and pumpkin seeds per day for the first 13–14 days of your menstrual cycle. This cycle is the follicular phase. During the second half of your cycle, known as the luteal phase, eat 1 tablespoon each of ground sunflower and sesame seeds per day until the first day of your next period. For those without a regulated cycle, you can benchmark using the cycles of the moon. Switch seed consumption during the new and full moon phases.
Benefits of Seed Cycling
When it comes to the benefits of seed cycling, the results are endless. Besides adding something extra delicious to your daily oatmeal or yogurt, seed cycling can also:
- Regulate your cycle
- Treat cystic acne
- Treat PCOS and endometriosis
- Aid in fertility
- Ease symptoms of menopause
- Improve thyroid hormone levels
- Supplement hair growth
- Support weight loss and water retention
There’s little to lose and much to gain when trying out natural methods like seed cycling. It could potentially be the next crucial step in regulating your cycle and aligning your hormonal body.