What Is Seed Cycling?

By: Dr. Alyssa McPeak

Seed cycling is a natural method of using specific seeds during different phases of your menstrual cycle to support the body’s hormone production—particularly estrogen and progesterone, the two key hormones involved in ovulation, implantation, and a healthy cycle.

By rotating nutrient-dense seeds throughout your cycle, you can gently nudge your body toward better hormonal balance—something that’s especially helpful if you have irregular periods, PMS, endometriosis, PCOS, or are trying to conceive.

How to Do Seed Cycling

Seed cycling follows two phases of your menstrual cycle:

🌱 Follicular Phase (Day 1–14 or until ovulation):

Support estrogen production

• 1 tablespoon ground flax seeds

• 1 tablespoon ground pumpkin seeds

These seeds are rich in lignans and zinc, which help balance estrogen and support the uterine lining as it thickens in preparation for implantation.

🌻 Luteal Phase (Day 15–28 or after ovulation):

Support progesterone production

• 1 tablespoon ground sesame seeds

• 1 tablespoon ground sunflower seeds

These seeds are high in selenium and vitamin E, both essential for progesterone production and maintaining a potential pregnancy.

👉 If your cycle is irregular or missing, you can start seed cycling with the phases of the moon: New Moon = Follicular Phase | Full Moon = Luteal Phase

Easy Ways to Add Seeds Into Your Routine

Seed cycling doesn’t need to be complicated. Here are a few easy ideas to get your daily dose:

• Add them to smoothies or smoothie bowls

• Stir into yogurt or coconut yogurt

• Mix into oatmeal or chia pudding

• Bake into energy bites or protein bars

• Sprinkle on top of salads, soups, or roasted veggies

• Blend into seed butter with dates or coconut oil

• Stir into overnight oats or nut milk lattes

Just be sure to use freshly ground seeds—your body absorbs the nutrients more effectively this way. You can use a coffee grinder or blender, and store ground seeds in the freezer.

Recipe: Hormone-Balancing Seed Cycling Energy Bites

🌸 Follicular Phase (Estrogen-Supporting) Bites:

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup ground flax seeds

• 1/2 cup ground pumpkin seeds

• 1/2 cup almond butter or sunflower seed butter

• 1/4 cup raw honey or maple syrup

• 1/2 tsp cinnamon

• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

• Pinch of sea salt

Instructions:

1. Mix all ingredients in a bowl until sticky and well combined.

2. Roll into 1-inch balls.

3. Store in fridge for up to a week or freeze for longer.

👉 Swap flax and pumpkin for ground sesame and sunflower seeds in the luteal phase to support progesterone.

Want to Learn More About Eating With Your Cycle?

Seed cycling is just one piece of the fertility puzzle. If you want to learn more about the best foods to eat during each phase of your cycle to support hormone balance, improve ovulation, and boost your chances of conception, check out my course:

🎓 Cycle Syncing: A Step-by-Step Guide to Understanding and Supporting Your Hormones

Inside, I’ll teach you how to eat, move, and live in alignment with your cycle to naturally support fertility at every stage.

💛 Your body is wise. You don’t need to force it—you just need to work with it. And seed cycling is one of the easiest, most powerful ways to start.

📲 Enroll now in Cycle Syncing or message me with your questions—I’d love to support you on your journey to fertility.