Seed cycling is a naturopathic protocol (practice) used by women and menstruating people looking to support their menstrual cycle. The practice of seed cycling may be recommended by a naturopath or a practitioner of Ayurvedic or Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Seed cycling may be used to help regulate the menstrual cycle hormones, as part of a PCOS diet, fertility diet, during perimenopause or to support postpartum recovery.
As you can see people experiencing several life stages might benefit from trying seed cycling, making Bia an excellent gift.
Seed Cycling for Teens
Menarche (the first period) usually occurs between the ages of 10 to 16 years of age; 12 being the average age. That being said periods can take around two years to become regular. Getting to know our body's natural rhythm may be a tender time for girls and having tools to support this transition such as journaling, cycle tracking or other creative practices may help ease frustration. Encouraging a balanced diet at all ages is important but during the earlier years of being a teen with period, it may be helpful to encourage supplementing their meals according to their cycle. This may look like more iron-rich foods post-bleed and increasing complete carbs right before. A seed cycling kit may be a great gift for teens who are having their period and just starting to get to know their menstrual cycle. At this age they are learning to eat in a way that is supportive of their hormones and seed cycling may be a nutritious and gentle way to do this. Our seed cycling recipes and kits make the perfect gift for a teen with a period.
Gifts for teens
Seed cycling for new parents
New parents may feel like their life is a bit of a whirlwind. With sleep deprivation, feeding, changing nappies, and trying to keep a tiny new human alive; nutrition can fall very low on the list of priorities. Seed cycling is not only a perfect support for hormone regulation but it’s a great way to increase omega fats (hello brain health) and fiber (vital for digestion).
Gifting a seed cycling kit to new parents can be a great way to boost their self-care.
Visiting new parents? Why not create some hormone-friendly snacks using Bia seeds ahead of your next visit? Energy-boosting and high in fiber! Because what new parent has the time to take care of a bouquet of another house plant?
Gifts for new parents
Seed cycling in the postpartum for new mothers
Seed cycling is a very gentle and effective protocol for eating two different seed blends to support the natural flux of female hormones during the menstrual cycle. Breastfeeding and being in postpartum mean our menstrual cycle is disrupted and the effects of the hormone imbalance can affect us with physical and mood-related symptoms.
Many naturopaths and nutritional chefs claim that seed cycling can support breastfeeding as postpartum hormones take a while to regulate.
One symptom many women experience right after birth but few are told to expect is constipation. Drinking plenty of water and increasing your fiber intake may help to make this less of a hindrance.
Prepping your postpartum snacks to include seed cycling may help you to eat in a more digestion and hormone-friendly way.
Gifts for postpartum mums
Seed cycling for PCOS
Women with PCOS will usually have very light, irregular, or no periods at all. If this is you then you might be thinking about seed cycling but unsure of where to start.
Here’s the good news - our natural cycle mirrors the moon cycle! The moon cycle is 28 days in length, just like the average menstrual cycle. The moon has a phase for proliferating aka waxing and peaks halfway in a full moon which looks a little bit like the mature egg of the ovulation phase (day 14), don’t you think!? Then it begins to wane completely away to form a new moon / dark moon which is symbolic of the uterine shedding we experience in our menstrual phase (day 1)
So if you’re unsure of how to start seed cycling with an irregular period then follow the moon cycle as a guide.
Day one of your period = the new moon phase
Day one of the ovulation phase = the full moon
PCOS Gifts
Guide for seed cycling:
Eat one tablespoon of freshly ground flaxseed and pumpkin seeds from day one of the cycle aka the first day of your period.
For days 15 to 28+ eat one tablespoon of freshly ground sesame and sunflower seeds.
Checking in
It is recommended that you practice seed cycling for at least three months before reflecting on differences in PMS symptoms, mood, skin and hair. Tracking your cycle is also important to see any patterns of regularity emerging.
