What Is Seed Cycling? And Can It Help Balance Your Hormones?

If you’ve ever felt like your hormones are running the show — from PMS mood swings to painful periods or irregular cycles — you’re not alone. One gentle, food-based method that’s growing in popularity is seed cycling.

I often recommend it to clients who are struggling with PMS, PMDD, post-pill symptoms, or simply want to feel more in sync with their natural cycle. It’s simple, cost-effective, and can be a lovely daily practice that brings awareness back to your body.

What is Seed Cycling?

Seed cycling involves eating specific seeds during different phases of your menstrual cycle to gently support oestrogen and progesterone levels.

The idea is to work with your cycle — not against it — by using the natural nutrients found in seeds like flax, pumpkin, sunflower, and sesame to help your hormones stay balanced and supported throughout the month.

How It Works

Here’s the basic structure of seed cycling:

Follicular Phase (Day 1–14):

• 1 tablespoon of ground flax seeds

• 1 tablespoon of ground pumpkin seeds

  
  

These support healthy oestrogen levels, thanks to the lignans in flax and the zinc in pumpkin seeds.

Luteal Phase (Day 15–28):

• 1 tablespoon of ground sunflower seeds

• 1 tablespoon of ground sesame seeds

  
  

These support progesterone production, with vitamin E, selenium, and healthy fats helping to calm inflammation and keep hormones in check.

Note: if your cycle isn’t 28 days, just adjust the switch around ovulation.

How Can It Help?

While formal research is still emerging, many people (myself included) report improvements in:

• PMS symptoms like mood swings, breast tenderness and cravings

• Cycle regularity

• Fertility and cervical mucus quality

• Energy and skin health across the cycle

• Post-pill cycle support

  
  

The nutrients in the seeds are genuinely beneficial, regardless of whether you follow the rotation perfectly.

What If My Cycle Isn’t Regular?

If your periods are irregular, missing, or you're coming off hormonal contraception, you can still try seed cycling by following the moon phases instead of your menstrual cycle.

Here’s how to do it:

• New moon to full moon → treat this as your follicular phase

  Eat flax + pumpkin seeds daily

• Full moon to new moon → treat this as your luteal phase

  Switch to sunflower + sesame seeds

  
  

This rhythm helps create a predictable pattern for your body, which can be especially grounding if your cycle is still regulating or you're in perimenopause, post-pill recovery, or experiencing amenorrhoea (when your periods have stopped).

Remember, you don’t need to do it perfectly to benefit. The nutrients in these seeds still offer support for your hormones, nervous system, and overall well-being.

Why I Recommend a Pre-Ground Blend

I used to recommend that clients grind their own seeds each week… but most of them just didn’t stick with it. It’s fiddly, easy to forget, and honestly, not very practical when life gets busy.

That’s why I now recommend Seed Cycle blends — they’re:

✔️ Pre-ground, so you don’t forget

✔️ Organic and high-quality, with no added fillers

✔️ Delivered to your door each month

✔️ Perfect for busy people who want to stay consistent

Remember: seed cycling only works if you actually do it, and this makes that so much easier.

Ready to Try It?

I’ve partnered with Seed Cycle to offer you 20% off your first order.

Use code: CATHERINENATURA

Order here:

GET YOUR SEEDS HERE

Let me know if you give it a go, and feel free to DM me on Instagram or email me with any questions. I’d love to hear how you get on!