
- Health advice
- 8 min read
- May 09, 2025
Hormones are at the core of almost everything we feel as women, our energy, our mood, our metabolism, our skin, and even our sleep. And yet, so many of us are navigating hormonal imbalance without clear guidance or support. Whether it’s irregular periods, PMS, perimenopause, or post-birth shifts, the symptoms can be frustrating and difficult to manage.
That’s where seed cycling comes in - a simple, food-based ritual that uses the power of natural nutrients to support hormonal balance. At The Seed Cycle, we believe in working with the body’s rhythms. And when it comes to your hormones, small, consistent nourishment can make a powerful difference.
What is Seed Cycling?
Seed cycling is the practice of eating specific seeds during two phases of your menstrual or lunar cycle to support your natural hormonal patterns. By aligning your nutrition with your body’s needs throughout the month, seed cycling provides essential nutrients that help balance estrogen and progesterone, the two main female sex hormones.
Whether you’re cycling regularly, irregularly, or not at all (such as in menopause), seed cycling offers a gentle, supportive way to nourish your hormones at any life stage.
The Phases & The Seeds
Phase 1: Day 1–14 (or New Moon to Full Moon)
Focus: Estrogen support
- Flaxseeds – Rich in lignans, they help support healthy estrogen metabolism and are known to ease PMS and support mood.
- Pumpkin seeds – High in zinc and magnesium, which support the ovaries and the adrenal glands, both essential for balanced hormone production.
Phase 2: Day 15–28 (or Full Moon to New Moon)
Focus: Progesterone support
- Sesame seeds – Packed with zinc and lignans to support natural progesterone levels and detoxification.
- Sunflower seeds – A great source of selenium and vitamin E to support the liver, reduce inflammation, and promote calm and focus.
The Seed Cycle: A visual guide to seed cycling for hormonal balance.
Why Seed Cycling Works for Hormone Imbalance
Many symptoms of hormonal imbalance like weight gain, mood swings, bloating, fatigue, and irregular cycles - can be traced back to nutrient deficiencies, stress, and disrupted hormone production. Seed cycling supports hormone health in 4 key ways:
-
Provides Targeted Nutrients
Each seed delivers specific vitamins, minerals, and plant compounds known to support hormonal pathways. -
Supports Estrogen & Progesterone Balance
Estrogen dominance or low progesterone are common issues for women. The seed cycling phases are designed to match the body’s needs as hormones naturally rise and fall. -
Improves Mood & Energy
Thanks to magnesium, zinc, omega-3s, and B vitamins, many women report better sleep, less bloating, and improved energy and mental clarity. -
Supports Detoxification
The liver is responsible for breaking down excess hormones. Selenium and lignans in seeds support this function, helping to clear hormonal build-up.
When to Try Seed Cycling
Seed cycling can support you through:
- PMS or painful periods
- Coming off hormonal birth control
- Perimenopause or menopause
- Postpartum hormone rebalancing
- Irregular or missing cycles
- Sugar cravings or mood swings linked to hormonal shifts
If you’re not menstruating, you can follow the lunar cycle:
- New Moon to Full Moon: Flax & Pumpkin
- Full Moon to New Moon: Sesame & Sunflower
What the Science Says About Seed Cycling
While seed cycling as a practice is rooted in traditional and naturopathic approaches, emerging research supports the benefits of many of the nutrients found in these seeds for women’s hormone health.
Flaxseeds are rich in lignans, which have been shown to positively influence estrogen metabolism and reduce symptoms related to hormonal imbalance. Zinc from pumpkin and sesame seeds is essential for ovulation and progesterone production, while vitamin E and selenium from sunflower seeds are important for reducing inflammation and supporting adrenal and thyroid function. One recent clinical trial even showed seed cycling outperforming metformin in reducing LH and FSH levels in women with PCOS.
Though more clinical research is needed to explore the full effects of seed cycling as a whole protocol, the individual components have been well-studied for their role in hormone regulation, mood balance, and metabolic health.
How to Get Started
At The Seed Cycle, we’ve made seed cycling simple. Our organic, pre-ground blends are carefully formulated for each phase of the cycle and portioned for ease. There’s no prep or guesswork required. Just add them to your breakfast, blend them into a smoothie, or stir into yoghurt.
We’re proud to now be stocked at Mr Vitamins, making this powerful, food-based hormone support more accessible to women across all life stages.
New Additions: Seed Cycling + Protein and Bake Mixes
To make hormone support even more enjoyable and convenient, we’ve expanded our range.
Seed Cycling + Protein is the first cyclical protein blend designed specifically for women. It features plant-based protein from hemp and Inca Inchi, and includes camu camu, a rich source of natural vitamin C. This combination supports energy, immunity, recovery, and collagen production. Each blend is tailored to align with either Phase 1 or Phase 2 of your cycle, making it easy to support your hormones while getting the protein you need.
Seed Cycling Bake Mixes are designed to make seed cycling fun and sustainable. These bake-at-home mixes are made with all-natural, hormone-supportive ingredients and come in flavours tailored to each phase. Whether you’re making cookies or bliss balls, these mixes offer a delicious and consistent way to keep your cycle support on track. They’re also suitable for kids and families, making them a practical and enjoyable addition to any routine.
With these additions, seed cycling can now fit seamlessly into your lifestyle—no matter how busy life gets.
Supporting Women, Naturally
Hormonal health doesn’t have to be complicated — and it shouldn’t be out of reach. Seed cycling is a gentle, natural practice that helps your body come back into balance using real food. Whether you’re navigating your cycle, preparing for menopause, or simply wanting to feel better in your body, this is one small daily step that can make a big impact.
What our Customers Say
A delicious natural way to balance hormones
‘I’ve suffered from menstrual migraines and difficult PMS symptoms for years. I’ve tried many things and found seed cycling to be easy to incorporate into my daily routine and they taste great. My PMS symptoms lessoned. I’d like to say my headaches improved, I still get them but they are not as intense.
I had also been trying to get pregnant for 4-5 months and hoped that seed cycling would help us along. I was pregnant after 3 months of seeds.
The seed cycle sell a high quality product ready to go and easy to incorporate into busy life. I would highly recommend this product to someone battling hormone imbalances or trying to get pregnant and even keeping healthy once that movement comes.’ Sarah J
A must have!
“Since giving birth to my youngest 3 years ago I suffered every month with migraines, bloating, period pain and a heavy flow resulting in very low iron levels. The gynaecologist recommended an IUD, which did not sit well with me. I started looking into alternative solutions, including The Seed Cycle. After a couple of months of consistently having it, all of my symptoms reduced and I started feeling more like my old self. It’s easy to incorporate into daily meals and snacks (most days I have it with fresh fruit and a scoop of yoghurt). I’m even giving it to my kids now - they’re packed with vitamins and nutrients!” - Annalisa
LOVE MY SEED CYCLE BROWNIE AND COOKIE MIXES
“I looovvvee my seed cycle brownie and cookie mixes. Honestly, they are delicious!! And the best thing ever is that they're completely guilt free!”! - D.L.
Convenient and tasty way to get seeds and protein!
“My naturopath suggested I give seed cycling a try. After starting with the seeds mix initially I noticed a significant reduction in the joint pain I've been dealing with during perimenopause.
I’ve also been needing to boost my protein intake, and this product being plant based fits perfectly” - Renee
References:
- Goyal, A., Sharma, V., Upadhyay, N., Gill, S., & Sihag, M. (2014). Flax and flaxseed oil: An ancient medicine & modern functional food. Journal of Food Science and Technology, 51(9), 1633–1653. Link
- Prasad, A. S. (2014). Zinc is an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent: its role in human health. Frontiers in Nutrition, 1, 14. Link
- Moghaddam, A. Z., et al. (2019). The effect of sunflower seed consumption on metabolic parameters in women with PCOS: A randomized clinical trial. Journal of Functional Foods, 52, 40–46. Link
- Basu, S., & Dutta, S. (2019). Selenium and vitamin E supplementation improves postpartum thyroid function. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 73(6), 816–822. Link
- Rasheed, N., et al. (2023). Effectiveness of combined seeds (pumpkin, sunflower, sesame, flaxseed): As adjunct therapy to treat polycystic ovary syndrome in females. Food Science & Nutrition, 11(6), 3385–3393. Link
About the Author
Melissa Kovacevic is a Functional Nutrition and EFT Practitioner and the founder of The Seed Cycle and Amazon best selling book – Seeds of Sisterhood. She created The Seed Cycle to simplify the ancient wisdom of food-based hormone support for modern women. Her mission is to help women reconnect with their bodies, balance their hormones, and feel at home in themselves again.
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