Seed Cycle: Simple Recipes To Include It In Your Daily Meals

An effective way to manage PCOS is through Seed Cycling. It is essential to boost fertility, acquire hormonal balance and prevent painful menopause symptoms. It involves the consumption of sunflower seeds, flax seeds, sesame and pumpkin seeds during other times every month to balance certain hormonal levels in females. Seed Cycling regulates the hormone estrogen in the follicular phase, the first phase of the menstrual cycle. It regulates progesterone in the luteal phase, the second phase of the menstrual cycle. 

• Phase 1: Follicular, begins on day 1 of menstruation - Generally days 1 to 14 or until ovulations beings
• Phase 2: Luteal, starts right after ovulation - Day 14 to 28-35 or until day 1 of menstruation 

How do you seed-cycle?

• Consume one tablespoon of each flaxseed and pumpkin seed daily during the follicular phase (days 1 to 14) 
• Consume 1 tablespoon each of sesame and sunflower seeds daily during the luteal phase (days 14 to 28-35) 

For a seamless integration of the seed cycle in your everyday diet, find practical and simple recipes below by Vinita Contractor - A Holistic Nutrition & Lifestyle Coach who specialises in Plant-based Nutrition combined with key elements from Natural Hygiene/Cure. 

Seed Cycling Powder Method: 

1. Grind each ingredient separately in a spice food processor/grinder until they form a fine flour. Be careful not to over grind. 
2. Mix the two seed powders and keep them separately labelled with follicular and luteal. 
3. Store in an air-tight container in the refrigerator and use as needed 

Seed Cycling Bliss Balls Method

1. Blend the almonds in a high-speed food processor till powdered. Separately blend walnuts. 
2. Next, add the dates, multi-seed powder, raw cacao powder and salt. 
3. Mix till the dough is well combined. Roll into balls. 
4. Optional: Coat with any of the following: Pistachio, cacao nibs, desiccated coconut, sesame seeds, cocoa powder, saffron, poppy seeds, matcha etc. 
5. For up to weeks, it can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge. 

Recipe 2 - Buddha Bowl

• ¼ Cup uncooked True Elements Gluten-Free Quinoa, after boiling, will double 
• 2 tbsp uncooked beans (rajma/chole), after boiling, will double 
• ½ tbsp roasted sesame seeds 
• 1tbsp lemon juice 
• ¼ zucchini cut into rings & stir-fried/ steamed 
• ½ large carrot grated 
• 1 cucumber chopped 
• ¼ cup spinach finely chopped 
• 1 tbsp of your favourite seasoning/ herbs 
• Microgreens or raw greens for garnish 
• Chopped tofu (optional) 

Turmeric Tahini Dressing

• 1.5 tbsp sesame butter 
• 1.5 tbsp warm water 
• 1 tbsp date paste 
• ¼ tsp turmeric 
• ¼ tsp turmeric 
• ¼ tsp chilli powder 
• Salt to taste 

To make the dressing, whisk or blend in a mixer all ingredients together. Pour over the Buddha bowl just before serving.

Method:

1. To prepare quinoa soak for 6-8 hours. Then, discard water and in a pot, boil quinoa, water (double the quantity of quinoa) and salt. 
2. Reduce it to simmer and cover for about 20 minutes. 
3. Fluff with a fork and mix into the quinoa 
4. Spoon the millet/ rice as the base or on the side in a big bowl or individual bowls. Arrange all the veggies in different spots. Sprinkle your favourite seasoning or herbs. Top with dressing, lemon juice, sesame and chopped raw greens of choice.