Does Seed Cycling Balance Hormones? - GoodRx (2024)

You may have heard the hype about seed cycling. This practice claims to help balance hormones, boost fertility, and ease symptoms of PMS and menopause by eating certain seeds at different times during a menstrual cycle.

In this article, we’ll dive into the science behind this claim and provide a deeper look at whether seed cycling can really help.

What is seed cycling?

Seed cycling is a holistic method used to help balance female hormones like estrogen and progesterone during a menstrual cycle. It involves eating specific seeds during two main phases of your menstrual cycle to help promote a healthy balance of estrogen and progesterone.

A typical seed-cycling protocol involves eating 2 tbsp of ground seeds every day. The seeds involved include:

• Flax

• Pumpkin

• Sesame

• Sunflower

You can blend these seeds into a smoothie, sprinkle them on oatmeal or yogurt, or eat them on their own. Some people insist that the seeds must be raw and freshly ground, while others aren’t as strict.

During phase one, which involves the follicular phase and occurs during the first 2 weeks of your menstrual cycle, the protocol is to eat a tbsp each of flax and pumpkin seeds every day.

During phase two, which involves the luteal phase and is the last 2 weeks of your menstrual cycle that begins immediately after phase one, you switch to eating a tbsp each of sunflower and sesame seeds.

Seed cycling advocates claim that it relieves hormone-related symptoms such as PMS, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), irregular periods, and hot flashes. Some people also believe that seed cycling can help you get pregnant and manage other hormonal symptoms like acne. The length of time that it takes to follow the seed-cycling pattern may vary, but some say that a few consecutive months of cycling is enough time to begin seeing the benefits.

Where did the idea of seed cycling come from?

During each phase of the menstrual cycle, female hormones rise and fall in different amounts. If they are not balanced or following the right pattern, it can lead to negative symptoms and unwanted side effects.

Seed cycling is a way of trying to influence your hormones through diet. Eating pumpkin and flax seeds during the first half of the menstrual cycle is believed to help prevent excess estrogen from building up and promote normal levels.

Flax seeds contain a plant compound called lignans, which are a type of phytoestrogen, or plant compound that mimics the structure of estrogen. Lignans may help ease the symptoms of menopause and balance the effects of estrogen in the body. Flaxseeds are particularly rich in lignans; they have about 100 times more lignans compared to other lignan-containing foods.

Pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, and sunflower seeds are also believed to support a healthy period. The theory is that because these are good sources of essential minerals like magnesium and zinc, they may help balance levels of estrogen and progesterone. But there is limited scientific evidence to confirm this.

What does the science say?

There is very limited research on the practice of seed cycling. An old study from 1993 reported that consuming lignans from flax seeds had no significant influence on estrogen concentrations during the follicular or luteal phases. Lignans have mostly been studied for their anticancer properties, specifically on breast cancer, not on hormone balance during a menstrual cycle.

Similarly, while intake of micronutrients like magnesium, zinc, and vitamin E is necessary for a healthy reproductive system, there is no solid evidence that getting these nutrients specifically through seed cycling offers any extra benefits for hormone balance.

So should you try seed cycling?

Seed cycling is not proven to support normal female hormone balancing, nor is there evidence that it supports any of the symptoms associated with imbalanced hormones. However, seeds have many health benefits. They’re a source of fiber, plant-based protein, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. They are a part of a healthy diet, and it is a good idea to include a variety of them in your diet on a regular basis.

There is no known harm in trying out seed cycling. If you experience benefits, it could be from the addition of healthful foods like seeds into your diet and not necessarily the act of seed cycling itself.

Ultimately, the decision to try seed cycling is an individual one. It is always best to talk with your healthcare provider if you are concerned about hormone imbalances and to get necessary medical tests done if indicated.