Hormone Balancing Dark Chocolate Seed Cycling Fig Balls
What Is Seed Cycling?
Seed cycling is a nutritional strategy that can be used by women in various stages of life, whether menstruating or menopausal, who are looking to balance their hormones naturally. This therapy is incredibly easy, inexpensive and can even be turned into a delicious treat!
What Does Seed Cycling Do?
Seed cycling can help support hormone balancing, aiding PMS symptoms, fertility and life transitions. Taking specific seeds at certain times of the month will help boost 2 hormones we naturally produce more of during those times. Of course we also want to be eating clean and avoiding refined sugars to improve our hormones also!
The Follicular Phase
During the first half of your cycle, the Follicular Phase, estrogen is the more dominant hormone running the show. Estrogen affects nearly every tissue in the body, supporting our brain function, the heart, bones and skin and it’s the reason you have those beautiful curves! It’s also responsible for building up the uterine lining in preparation for a fertilized egg. Flax and pumpkin seeds are taken during this phase to naturally support estrogen levels in a healthy, safe way.
The Luteal Phase
In the second half of your cycle, the Luteal Phase, which follows the Ovulatory phase, progesterone is the more dominant hormone. Progesterone helps us feel calm, level and chilled out. If you’re low in progesterone you may feel moody, anxious, depressed, have poor sleep, be weapy and your libido may suffer. Sesame and sunflower seeds help support progesterone levels naturally.
How to Practice Seed Cycling
On day 1 of your cycle, which is the day of your first full bleed, take 1 tbsp ground flaxseeds and 1 tbsp pumpkin seeds for the next 14 days. The pumpkin seeds can either be ground or chewed very well. From day 15 until the rest of your cycle, take 1 tbsp ground sesame seeds and 1 tbsp sunflower seeds. Ideally sesame seeds should be ground, but the sunflower seeds can either be ground or chewed very well. Alternatively, you can eat seed butters, such as sunflower or pumpkin seed butter. Throw seeds into salads, smoothies, chia pudding or make naturally-sweetened energy balls to get your seeds in!
Tip: Consume raw seeds for the most benefits!
How Do I Use Seed Cycling If I Don’t Have a Regular Period?
If you don’t have a period, such as if you’re post menopausal, you can start the seeds anytime and rotate every 2 weeks. Alternatively, because women naturally sync up with the moon cycles, you can also check a calendar to find when the new moon or full moon is and start the corresponding seeds then (see the infographic for details).
Dark Chocolate Seed Cycling Fig Balls
Ingredients
15 tbsp raw flaxseeds OR sesame seeds (measured then ground)
1 cup pumpkin seed butter OR sunflower butter (this will be just over 15 tbsp worth of seeds)
10 figs (soaked in hot water for 5 mins then drained)*
5-6 tbsp raw cocao powder (more nutritious) or cocoa powder — A great source of magnesium for cramps and mood also!
*(6 tbsp if you want a very rich dark chocolate flavour)
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp real salt
1 tsp cinnamon
8 tbsp collagen peptides (Get vital proteins collagen from my online Full Script store at a discount here!)
2 tbsp MCT oil or melted coconut oil
Directions
Pre-grind seeds in a bullet or coffee grinder.
Add all ingredients to a food processor and process until it forms a dough-like ball.
Roll the mixture into 14 even balls.
Place in the freezer in an airtight container. Or leave 7 days worth in the fridge and freeze the rest.
Notes:
These can be made all at once for the month and frozen, or made fresh every 2 weeks. Double the recipe and switch the seeds. Just be sure to label them so you know which seeds they contain.
You need to use either pumpkin seed butter or sunflower butter, depending on the phase you’re in, instead of seeds, to get the right texture.
These make a great after dinner treat!!
*Want a lower sugar option?
Add less figs and more almond butter instead to help these balls bind together. You could also add a couple drops of stevia extract to make these a bit sweeter with out the affects on your blood sugar.
Enjoy and tag me @flourishnaturalwellness on instagram when you make these!! 😊