{"id":27076,"date":"2025-07-27T04:45:10","date_gmt":"2025-07-27T04:45:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/27076\/"},"modified":"2025-07-27T04:45:10","modified_gmt":"2025-07-27T04:45:10","slug":"how-trendy-seed-cycling-could-banish-your-rubbish-sleep-pms-and-brain-fog-in-a-matter-of-days","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/27076\/","title":{"rendered":"How trendy \u2018seed cycling\u2019 could banish your rubbish sleep, PMS and brain fog in a matter of days"},"content":{"rendered":"

CRAMPS, irritability, crying and cravings are just some of the symptoms women have to put up with as a result of their hormones.<\/p>\n

These chemical signals take us on a rollercoaster ride, up and down, from puberty<\/a> to menopause<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Woman<\/a><\/p>\n

5<\/p>\n

Cramps are one of the symptoms women have to put up with as a result of their hormones\"Overhead<\/a><\/p>\n

5<\/p>\n

Seeds can help balance out hormones, lessening mood swings, brain fog, poor sleep and irregular periodsCredit: Getty\"Chia<\/a><\/p>\n

5<\/p>\n

‘Seed cycling’ can help boost or hamper the production of the main sex hormonesCredit: Getty<\/p>\n

Despite their tight grasp on our daily moods, most of us are out of touch with their powers.<\/p>\n

Yet, with more than 2.3 billion views of the hashtag #hormonebalance on TikTok<\/a>, it seems women are keen to find out how to improve their symptoms.<\/p>\n

As many as 30% of menstruating women experience moderate to severe PMS<\/a> each month, while up to 8% have the most severe form called PMDD.*<\/p>\n

And up to 90% of women going through menopause say they suffer side effects, with 25% describing these as severe and debilitating.**<\/p>\n

As a nutritionist, I repeatedly see the profound link between diet and hormones in my female clients.<\/p>\n

Whether they are struggling with menstrual irregularities, low libido or have challenges conceiving, many are surprised to learn that what they eat can make a big difference.<\/p>\n

The humble seed is the superfood to start with.<\/p>\n

This cheap cupboard staple can help balance out hormones, lessening mood swings, brain fog, poor sleep<\/a> and irregular periods<\/a>.<\/p>\n

By \u201cseed cycling\u201d \u2013 rotating different seeds over the course of a month \u2013 in theory, you can help boost or hamper the production of the main sex hormones, oestrogen and progesterone, depending on where you are in your cycle.<\/p>\n

As a result, they can help relieve the debilitating symptoms that come with the monthly hormonal rollercoaster.<\/a><\/p>\n

TikTokers are raving about chia seed water to lose weight WHAT DOES THE SCIENCE SAY?<\/p>\n

Evidence shows that seeds are a good source of phytoestrogens \u2013 AKA plant chemicals that have oestrogen-like effects on the body.<\/p>\n

One study in The Journal Of Clinical Endocrinology And Metabolism showed flaxseeds can help make periods more regular.<\/p>\n

Another study, which looked at the hormonal effects of sesame seeds, showed consuming 50g daily over five weeks helped to increase sex hormones in post-menopausal women.***<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, zinc in pumpkin seeds and vitamin E in sunflower seeds are both thought to support progesterone.<\/p>\n

These morsels of goodness are also rich in fibre, which plays an important role in breaking down oestrogen, and contain anti-inflammatory omega-3 fats, as well as muscle-boosting protein.<\/p>\n

WORK WITH YOUR CYCLE<\/p>\n

First, you have to figure out how long your menstrual cycle is. <\/p>\n

The average is 28 days, but what\u2019s normal for you might be longer or shorter.<\/p>\n

The first two weeks are known as the follicular phase, starting from day one of your period.<\/p>\n

The second fortnight, known as the luteal phase, starts after ovulation, around day 14, and incorporates the days when you may experience PMS before your period.<\/p>\n

Are your periods irregular? <\/p>\n

Then try following the phases of the moon as a guide to simulate your body\u2019s natural rhythm, because a full lunar cycle is roughly 29 days.<\/p>\n

TRY THE DIET<\/p>\n

Seed cyclers claim that taking 1tbsp per day of each specific seed (depending on what phase you are in) is enough to have an impact.<\/p>\n

FOLLICULAR PHASE<\/p>\n

SEEDS: Flaxseed and pumpkin seeds.<\/p>\n

WHY? They\u2019re rich in omega-3 fatty acids to reduce inflammation \u2013 a key driver of menstrual pain.<\/p>\n

\"Oatmeal<\/a><\/p>\n

5<\/p>\n

Try porridge with berries and flaxseed<\/p>\n

Omega-3 fatty acids also help to increase blood flow to the ovaries and uterus, which can ensure healthy fertility<\/a>.<\/p>\n

MEAL SUGGESTIONS: Porridge with berries and flaxseed,
tuna salad with pumpkin seeds.<\/p>\n

LUTEAL PHASE<\/p>\n

SEEDS: Sesame and sunflower seeds.<\/p>\n

WHY? They are high in magnesium, vitamin B6 and vitamin E to help support progesterone production, which rises during this phase.<\/p>\n

\"Stir-fried<\/a><\/p>\n

5<\/p>\n

Soy and honey chicken with sesame seeds and Mediterranean vegetables<\/p>\n

Progesterone helps to counterbalance a rise in oestrogen, reducing breast tenderness and bloating.<\/p>\n

MEAL SUGGESTIONS: Soy and honey chicken with sesame seeds and Mediterranean vegetables, protein smoothie with sunflower seeds.<\/p>\n

‘I’M FULL OF ENERGY NOW!’<\/p>\n

Fiona Lewis, 39, from north London, began experimenting with seed cycling when her periods started wreaking havoc on her life.<\/p>\n

Her cycles became shorter \u2013 21 days compared to the average 28 \u2013 meaning her periods were more frequent. They were also heavier.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had acne and I felt shattered all the time,\u201d she says. Fiona had developed these issues over 18 months, before seeing a doctor.<\/p>\n

\u201cI went through the NHS initially, but it was so slow that I ended up going private,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

\u201cI saw a gynaecologist, who carried out several blood tests and scans, and told me I had mild endometriosis and adenomyosis, which were probably causing the issues, along with potentially starting perimenopause.\u201d<\/p>\n

Irregular periods are a key symptom of perimenopause.<\/p>\n

\u201cDoctors said that perimenopause could be a contributing issue,\u201d says Fiona.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut once my blood test results came back, they said my hormone levels were normal, so it wasn\u2019t that. The only solution I was offered was the Mirena coil.\u201d<\/p>\n

The coil may be recommended as contraception during perimenopause to provide more of the hormone progesterone or to help with heavy periods.<\/p>\n

\u201cI really didn\u2019t want to be putting hormones into my body and having to deal with the potential side effects of those,\u201d says Fiona.<\/p>\n

\u201cInstead, I started doing my own research and became really interested in hormonal nutrition.<\/p>\n

\u201cA lot of the literature and research I came across mentioned seed cycling, so I tried it. Within a month, I noticed a difference.<\/p>\n

“Whether it was a coincidence or not I don\u2019t know, but after six months of sticking to the routine, I\u2019ve never had more regular or \u2018normal\u2019 periods.<\/p>\n

“I feel full of energy, can compete in my usual fitness competitions no problem, plus my acne has cleared up!\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"CRAMPS, irritability, crying and cravings are just some of the symptoms women have to put up with as…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":27077,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[445],"tags":[49,48,635,3854,2373,21551,409,82,10103,10104],"class_list":["post-27076","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-cycling","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-cycling","tag-diet-nutrition-and-weight-loss","tag-menopause","tag-section-wellnessdiet-nutrition","tag-sleep","tag-sports","tag-the-sun-newspaper","tag-the-sun-on-sunday"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27076","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27076"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27076\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/27077"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27076"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27076"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27076"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}