Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is It?How Does It Work?Seed Cycling andHormonesSeed Cycling and MenopauseSeed Cycling for FertilityNutritional BenefitsHow to Do ItFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Is It?
How Does It Work?
Seed Cycling andHormones
Seed Cycling and Menopause
Seed Cycling for Fertility
Nutritional Benefits
How to Do It
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are interested in natural health remedies, you may have heard of seed cycling. Seed cycling is a dietary practice that involves eating four types of seeds throughout the month.
Proponents of seed cycling believe certain seeds can be used to balance female hormones involved in themenstrual cycle. This health trend claims to balance hormones, boost fertility, and ease symptoms ofmenopause.
This article will provide an overview of seed cycling, including its health claims and how to try it.
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Everything to Know About Menstruation
What Is Seed Cycling?
Seed cycling is a health trend that claims to use seeds to balance female hormones in the body. It involves rotating certain seeds in the diet throughout the month, according to themenstrual cycle. The seeds containessential fatty acids, which are necessary for hormone production in the body.
How Does Seed Cycling Work?
During the second half of your cycle, days 15 to 30, it’s recommended to consume seeds that supportprogesteronein the body. These include sunflower seeds and sesame seeds.
Hormones in a Normal Cycle
During the month, a thick lining that contains nutrients builds up on the inner wall of the uterus in preparation forpregnancy. When conception does not occur, estrogen and progesterone hormone levels decrease. The thick uterine lining sheds when these hormone levels fall, resulting in your period.
The first half of the menstrual cycle is called the follicular phase. It begins with menses (period) when the thick uterine lining sheds.
The second half of the menstrual cycle is known as theluteal phase. This phase begins about 14 days into the cycle withovulation. During ovulation, a single mature egg is released from the follicle. Once the egg is released, the follicle then releases progesterone, which helps prepare the uterus for pregnancy.
Estrogen levels remain high during this phase. When the released egg does not become fertilized, progesterone and estrogen levels start to fall. This starts the cycle over again with menses.
Causes of Hormonal Imbalance
Hormonal imbalancescan occur for several reasons. Possible causes of hormonal imbalances in the body include:
How Seeds Affect Hormones
Certain seeds may affect hormones because they contain phytoestrogens, plant compounds that mimic estrogen in the body. They can be found in flaxseeds, sesame seeds, whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and legumes. It’s believed that consuming phytoestrogens during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycles may increase or decrease estrogen levels as needed and balance hormones.
Does Seed Cycling Result in Balanced Hormones?
There is no scientific evidence to prove that seed cycling results in balanced hormones. However, one review found that consuming phytoestrogens in the diet lowered the frequency and severity ofhot flashesin individuals going through menopause. Consuming phytoestrogens may also improve bone mineral density in the spine. It’s important to note that this review also found that phytoestrogens have been linked to an increased risk for infertility.
What Are Lignans?Lignans are a type of phytoestrogen found in flaxseeds and sesame seeds. They are believed to be able to balance hormone levels because of their effect on estrogen.
What Are Lignans?
Lignans are a type of phytoestrogen found in flaxseeds and sesame seeds. They are believed to be able to balance hormone levels because of their effect on estrogen.
Seed Cycling and Menopause Symptoms
Low estrogen levels can also contribute to bothersome menopausal symptoms like hot flashes andvaginal dryness. Menopause hormone therapy can be used to improve symptoms but may increase the risk of blood clots, stroke, and certain cancers.
The fats and lignans in flax and other seeds may help ease menopause symptoms.Other ways to ease menopause symptoms include:
Low Estrogen: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments
Each month, the body makes different amounts of hormones to prepare for pregnancy. These changing hormone levels are necessary for conception. Proponents of seed cycling believe that using seeds to balance levels of estrogen and progesterone throughout the month boosts fertility.
The menstrual cycle starts on the first day of your period and usually lasts about 24 to 38 days. On average, women get periods for about 40 years of their life. The average age of menopause in the United States is 52.
When Are You the Most Fertile?
Other Nutritional Benefits of Seeds
Seeds have several potential health benefits. Seeds are rich in healthy nutrients like protein and minerals. Incorporating seeds into your diet has been associated with a lower risk of weight gain, heart disease, andhigh cholesterol.
Seeds are an important component of theMediterranean diet, a heart-healthy eating plan that includes healthy fats such as olive oil, whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and beans, nuts, and seeds, with fewer servings per week of poultry and fish, and limited red meat. The Mediterranean diet has been shown to lower the risk of heart disease, cancer,Alzheimer’s disease, andParkinson’s disease.
How to Do Seed Cycling
Who Should Avoid Seed Cycling?If you have a compromised immune system, the small number of natural toxins in seeds may harm your body. People withdiverticulitisare usually advised to avoid seeds because they can become lodged in the small pouches in the gut lining. Always talk with your healthcare provider before starting a new health regimen.
Who Should Avoid Seed Cycling?
If you have a compromised immune system, the small number of natural toxins in seeds may harm your body. People withdiverticulitisare usually advised to avoid seeds because they can become lodged in the small pouches in the gut lining. Always talk with your healthcare provider before starting a new health regimen.
Summary
in seed cycling, you eat certain seeds throughout the month to affect the levels of estrogen and progesterone in your body. It is a health trend that claims to balance hormone levels, boost fertility, and ease menopause symptoms. There is no evidence to support these claims. However, seed cycling does not appear to be dangerous. Talk with your healthcare provider before beginning a new health regimen like seed cycling.
A Word From Verywell
Seed cycling may sound like a promising remedy if you have been experiencing hormonal imbalances, infertility, or menopausal symptoms. It’s important to remember, though, that no evidence supports its health claims. Still, seeds have several possible health benefits, so talk with your healthcare provider if you’d like to give seed cycling a try.
Frequently Asked QuestionsAt this time, there is not enough evidence to conclude that seed cycling works for boosting fertility or relieving menopausal symptoms.Because there is no scientific evidence to support seed cycling, there is no recommended regimen to follow. If you’re interested in trying seed cycling, talk with your healthcare provider about how long to try it.
At this time, there is not enough evidence to conclude that seed cycling works for boosting fertility or relieving menopausal symptoms.
Because there is no scientific evidence to support seed cycling, there is no recommended regimen to follow. If you’re interested in trying seed cycling, talk with your healthcare provider about how long to try it.
7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National University of Natural Medicine.How seed cycling supports women’s hormonal health.Rietjens IMCM, Louisse J, Beekmann K.The potential health effects of dietary phytoestrogens.Br J Pharmacol. 2017;174(11):1263-1280. doi:10.1111/bph.13622Rietjens IMCM, Louisse J, Beekmann K.The potential health effects of dietary phytoestrogens.Br J Pharmacol. 2017;174(11):1263-1280. doi:10.1111/bph.13622Office on Women’s Health.Menopause and your health.Mount Sinai.Flaxseed.Office on Women’s Health.Your menstrual cycle.Duke Health.Are seeds really healthy or just trendy?
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National University of Natural Medicine.How seed cycling supports women’s hormonal health.Rietjens IMCM, Louisse J, Beekmann K.The potential health effects of dietary phytoestrogens.Br J Pharmacol. 2017;174(11):1263-1280. doi:10.1111/bph.13622Rietjens IMCM, Louisse J, Beekmann K.The potential health effects of dietary phytoestrogens.Br J Pharmacol. 2017;174(11):1263-1280. doi:10.1111/bph.13622Office on Women’s Health.Menopause and your health.Mount Sinai.Flaxseed.Office on Women’s Health.Your menstrual cycle.Duke Health.Are seeds really healthy or just trendy?
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National University of Natural Medicine.How seed cycling supports women’s hormonal health.Rietjens IMCM, Louisse J, Beekmann K.The potential health effects of dietary phytoestrogens.Br J Pharmacol. 2017;174(11):1263-1280. doi:10.1111/bph.13622Rietjens IMCM, Louisse J, Beekmann K.The potential health effects of dietary phytoestrogens.Br J Pharmacol. 2017;174(11):1263-1280. doi:10.1111/bph.13622Office on Women’s Health.Menopause and your health.Mount Sinai.Flaxseed.Office on Women’s Health.Your menstrual cycle.Duke Health.Are seeds really healthy or just trendy?
National University of Natural Medicine.How seed cycling supports women’s hormonal health.
Rietjens IMCM, Louisse J, Beekmann K.The potential health effects of dietary phytoestrogens.Br J Pharmacol. 2017;174(11):1263-1280. doi:10.1111/bph.13622
Office on Women’s Health.Menopause and your health.
Mount Sinai.Flaxseed.
Office on Women’s Health.Your menstrual cycle.
Duke Health.Are seeds really healthy or just trendy?
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