Seed Cycling

During a normal menstrual cycle, your estrogen and progesterone levels ebb and fall in a predictable rhythm. As you approach menopause, your hormone levels may start to fluctuate more erratically. After menopause, production of both hormones settles at a significantly lower level.

Theoretically, seed cycling either enhances or inhibits the production of estrogen and progesterone in the body (depending on what is needed), thereby balancing and optimizing your hormones and relieving symptoms due to hormonal imbalance.

In a typical seed cycling protocol, you eat two tablespoons of ground seeds every day. You can mix the seeds into a smoothie or sprinkle them on your oatmeal. Purists insist that the seeds be raw and freshly ground.

If you’re still menstruating, you’d start phase one (pumpkin and flax) on the first day of your period and switch to phase two (sunflower and sesame) on day 14.  If you are no longer menstruating, you can start phase one on the first of the month.

Phase I: During phase one, which lasts two weeks, you eat a tablespoon of flax and a tablespoon of pumpkin seeds.

Phase II: During phase two, which also lasts two weeks, you switch to sunflower and sesame seeds.

This adds about 100 calories, 9 grams of fat, 4 grams of protein, and 3 grams of fiber to your day.

Source: Scientific American