Feeling out of sync with your body? Felt like your hormones are playing their own game and forgot to invite you? Maybe your periods are unpredictable, PMS turns you into someone even you don’t recognise, or your skin throws tantrums every few weeks. Your kitchen staples could be the superheroes to the rescue. They can help bring your hormones back into balance naturally through something simple and powerful called seed cycling.
It's a gentle, food-based practice that’s gaining attention for its support of hormonal balance, using nothing more than everyday seeds. No pills, no complicated diets. Just real food doing what it does best.
What is seed cycling?
Seed cycling is the idea of eating four kinds of seeds like flax, pumpkin, sunflower and sesame depending on where you are in your menstrual cycle. It might sound a bit complicated at first, but it is no big deal once you get the hang of it. All you need to do is keep a track of which phase you are in and add the right seeds to your meals each day. It can be something as easy as tossing them into your smoothie, stirring them into yoghurt or sprinkling them over whatever you are already eating. Over time, this small habit can help you feel more balanced, especially if your cycle tends to feel a little all over the place.
Your cycle has two main phases. The first half called the Follicular Phase (Day 1 of period to 14) in which the oestrogen levels start to rise and prepare your body for ovulation. In the second half, Luteal Phase (Day 15 to 28), progesterone takes over and helps balance things out. Each seed works best during a specific part of this cycle and supports your body as it shifts from one phase to the next.
It is not some intense wellness trend or strict routine. It is just an easy way to support your body with simple ingredients. Think of it as a small, everyday habit that can help you feel more balanced and in tune with yourself over time.
How does seed cycling work?
The follicular phase is when you bring in flaxseeds and pumpkin seeds. One tablespoon of each every day. Flaxseeds have something called lignans that can help balance oestrogen and pumpkin seeds are loaded with zinc, which helps your body get ready for the next phase where progesterone becomes more active. Then comes the luteal phase is when you switch to sesame seeds and sunflower seeds. Same idea. One tablespoon of each per day. Sesame seeds have healthy fats and lignans that support progesterone and sunflower seeds have selenium which helps with detox and keeps your hormones steady. This combo can really help with things like PMS, mood swings and that general pre-period fog.
If your cycle is hard to track or not regular a lot of people, follow the moon cycle instead. You start with flax and pumpkin during the new moon and switch to sesame and sunflower at the full moon. It might sound a little earthy, but it makes tracking easier and feels pretty calming too.
Real-Life Benefits of Seed Cycling
Seed cycling might sound like another one of those Instagram wellness trends, but it’s surprisingly chill and can actually help you feel more in tune with your body. People who’ve tried it consistently for a few months often notice some pretty decent changes. Like for starters, your cycle can start feeling more predictable. If you’re someone who’s always guessing when your period will show up, this might help bring a bit more regularity to the whole thing. Then there’s the PMS. You know the mood swings, the bloating, that general blah feeling that shows up out of nowhere? Some people say seed cycling makes those symptoms way more manageable. It’s not a miracle cure but if something as simple as adding seeds to your meals helps take the edge off, why not?
Hormonal acne is another big one. If you get those super annoying breakouts that love to pop up right before your period, the nutrients in these seeds could help your skin chill out a little. And if you’re someone who’s thinking about fertility or trying to get your cycle balanced before planning a pregnancy, seed cycling is a gentle, food-based way to support that without going down the supplement rabbit hole. Even if that’s not on your radar, having more stable energy and moods throughout the month is a huge win. When your hormones aren’t constantly yo-yoing, you start to feel like yourself again.
Quality of the seeds
If you’re going to commit to doing this, the quality of the seeds seriously matters. Fresh, good-quality seeds are where the magic happens. Ours are stone-ground in small batches so they stay full of nutrients and taste earthy in the best way. No weird bitterness or stale aftertaste. Just clean seeds that blend easily into whatever you’re eating. A spoonful a day is all it takes. No pills, no stress, no overthinking. Just a little sprinkle of goodness that supports you from the inside out.
Is seed cycling for everyone?
For the most part, yes. It’s a pretty safe and gentle way to support your hormones using nothing but food. That said, if you’re dealing with allergies or something like PCOS or thyroid issues, it’s always better to talk to your doctor first just to be on the safe side.
But honestly, if you’re just feeling a little off or tired of your cycle feeling like a total mystery every month, seed cycling can be a really low-effort way to feel more in tune with your body. It won’t fix everything overnight, but small changes like this do add up.
Final thoughts
At the end of the day, there’s something really grounding about doing something kind for your body that doesn’t involve rules or restrictions. Seed cycling is more about building a habit that reminds you to check in with yourself, to slow down a bit and take care. Whether you’re doing it to help with cramps, mood swings or just to feel a little more connected, it’s one of those small things that might end up making a big difference.
Addrita Sinha,
MSc Media, Communications and International Journalism,
University of Glasgow.