Hormones can be pretty tricky, and easily can get their noses out of joint (A bit like my 15 year old self). If we are not doing a few things to support them, giving them no excuses not to play fair and be in perfect balance. But hail above, when things go wrong, and they sometimes do we can be prepared. Turning to food which can be our medicine if allowed to be mother nature and mother moon are always my first ports to call to.

One easy way to get started balancing hormones and fixing periods is through seed cycling.
How seed cycling works …is the consumption of ground, if possible, seeds in your diet during different phases of your menstrual cycle. All these seeds have amazing health benefits (of course some may have a particular intolerance to seeds as some people have with different foods so pay attention to this). Different seeds have different nutritional properties and play a role in supporting healthy levels of specific hormones at the certain times of your cycle. What I love is how seed cycling can be used in our armour of happy hormones and can benefit Women of all ages in their hormonal health.

Which seeds do I take and in which phase of my cycle?

As I teach in my week 4-week self-study Align & Thrive course we have 4 phases to our cycle.

1. The Menstrual phase.

2. The Follicular phase.

3. The ovulatory phase.

4. The luteal phase.

Seed cycling focus on boosting oestrogen levels during the first 2 phases, and boosting progesterone levels and oestrogen metabolization during the next 2 phases.

• During the first 2 phases, I recommend eating 1 tablespoon of both ground flaxseeds and pumpkin seeds which are rich in phytoestrogens, a natural source form of oestrogen. I mention ground as its easier on the digestive system to extract the nutrients and kinder on digestion.

• During the next 2 phases, I recommend eating 1 tablespoon of both sesame and sunflower( The power of the 2 S’s) containing zinc (sesame)and Vit E (sunflower) both needed for the production of progesterone which we cannot get alone from food.

This can be an easy, practical but transformational way to start addressing any hormonal imbalances you have. Happy seed cycling!

P.S. Book your Cycle power course today and receive a FREE 1:1 consultation (worth £99)!

This was written by our in-house nutrition coach, Michelle AKA The happy period coach. You can also work with her on a 121 basis - find more information here.