PLANT THIS IN YOUR LIFE

WE women often hear that our hormones can get ‘out of balance’ but we are never really clear on want to do about it.

Many women are turning to ‘seed cycling’, a simple change to your diet that actually supports your hormones through your monthly cycle. It’s said to help irregular periods, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), PMS and breast tenderness — basically, anything to do with hormones, including through menopause. And as it is so easy and cheap to do, it is certainly worth a try.

The idea is this: for the first half of your cycle, the follicular phase (days one to 14), take a tablespoon of flax and a tablespoon of pumpkin seeds every day. They should be freshly ground and raw. The seeds, rich in zinc and selenium, help to naturally boost your oestrogen, without leading to excess levels in your body. Then, from days 15 to 28 — the luteal phase — you switch to a tablespoon of sesame and the same of sunflower seeds each day, also raw and ground. The luteal phase is when your progesterone levels rise (hello, PMS), and sunflower and sesame seeds contain essential fatty acids and nutrients to help support you through this time. If you don’t have a period at all, try doing days one to 28 regardless, starting with the new moon at day one and switching on day 14, helping to bring your monthly cycle back in to balance. Add the seeds to smoothies or porridge, or sprinkle them over soups and stews. See naturalfitfoodie.com