I’m Sarah, a Naturopathic Doctor, wellness enthusiast and health-foodie. I’m a well-being advocate and green kitchen guru who is living my true purpose while guiding patients through their personal health journeys. I’m also a complete and utter health food fanatic who wants to see everyone benefit from eating healing foods!
April 16, 2019 By Sarah White No Comments
Periods shouldn’t be miserable, they shouldn’t be painful or make you want to lose it on everyone you come into contact with. Your cycle shouldn’t cause breakouts, or extreme bloating and your period shouldn’t require 40+ tampons & an iron transfusion each month. Even though these symptoms may be common, they’re not normal! It is possible to have an easy & dare I even say enjoyable cycle when your hormones are balanced and supported with the right foods, exercise and supplements.
Seed cycling is my favourite hormone-balancing food therapy. It’s cheap, delicious and so incredibly easy to do. You simply eat more estrogen supportive foods in the first half of you cycle and through ovulation when you want estrogen levels to be at their peak, and eat progesterone-promoting foods from after ovulation until menses. After a few months on this protocol so many of my patients report an improvement in PMS symptoms, ovulatory symptoms and even cycle length.
Seed cycling is safe, easy and my patients consistently report that it makes a difference in their overall hormonal health. There’s even a study from the the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism which shows that eating the seeds included in this seed cycling protocol results in an improve progesterone to estrogen ratio. The women who ate these seeds were also found to have longer luteal phases, which is often associated with a healthier hormonal cycle and regular ovulation. Give this food therapy a try for a few months for happier hormones. If you’re still feeling moody and experiencing difficult periods after 3 months of seed cycling then it’s time to book a visit with your naturopathic doctor for a personalized herbal, nutritional or bio-identical hormone treatment.
While seed cycling is indeed super easy, it can feel a little monotonous eating the same old flax / pumpkin / sunflower / sesame seeds all week long. Recently, patients have been asking me for delicious recipes that incorporate therapeutic doses of these hormone healthy seeds. We’ve already covered some luteal phase supportive recipes here and here, so today’s post features the first of two tasty recipes to add to your diet in the follicular phase of your cycle (stay tuned next week for my favourite flax muffins). I hope your enjoy this tasty, low carb, and hormone balancing breakfast, perfect for supporting optimal estrogen health throughout the first two weeks of your cycle.
I hope your enjoy this tasty, low carb, and hormone balancing breakfast, perfect for supporting optimal estrogen health throughout the first two weeks of your cycle.
Combine the milk, coconut yoghurt, cinnamon, flax seeds, maple syrup and rolled oats. Mix well and add to a glass container and place in the fridge overnight. Pull out of the fridge for breakfast, stir well and top with pumpkin seeds, almonds, coconut flakes and dried fruit.
Dr. Sarah White is a Naturopathic Doctor, Integrative health expert and the founder + CEO of This Doctor’s Kitchen — your evidence-based resource for all things health and wellness. Dr. Sarah takes a food-first approach to health with a focus in fertility, longevity and natural beauty. She is recognized as an expert in women’s hormones, thyroid health and anti-aging. Dr. Sarah is a published health author with features in Elle Canada, Best Health, EcoParent & Whole Family magazine.
