Seed cycling is great way to use food as medicine! We recommend it most commonly to women to support healthy menstrual cycles, fertility and menopause. But benefits to eating seeds are not exclusive to just us ladies, or hormone support for that matter. The seeds that are used for seed cycling, including flax, pumpkin, sunflower and sesame seeds, are also great for lowering cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar, as they are full of all kinds of nutrients our bodies need to thrive! Below are some of my favorite recipes to help you integrate seeds and seed cycling into your daily routine.
SUPERSEED BITES – makes 7 balls; Dose 1 ball daily.
*For days 1-14 of menstrual cycle use flax and pumpkin seeds.
*For days 15-28 of menstrual cycle use sesame and sunflower seeds
1/2 cup fresh ground Flaxseed or Sesame
1/2 cup fresh ground Pumpkin seeds or Sunflower
1.5 tablespoons hemp seeds
1/3 cup dates (pitted)
1.5 tablespoons raisins (or other dried fruit)
1.5 tablespoons desiccated coconut
1 tablespoons cacao powder
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Grind seeds in a food processor until coarse. Add in dates and raisins and process until mixture starts coming together, dates and raisins are finely chopped. Add in the coconut, cacao and vanilla extract and process until mixture is well combined and sticky. Separate mixture into 14 small chunks and roll until shaped into a ball. OPTIONAL: Roll balls in cacao powder for extra chocolate flavor! Store in refrigerator in an airtight container.
SUPERSEED BREAKFAST BOWL – 1 serving
*For days 1-14 of menstrual cycle use flax and pumpkin seeds.
*For days 15-28 of menstrual cycle use sesame and sunflower seeds
1/3 cup of quinoa
1 cup water
1/4 cup coconut milk
2 tablespoons of maple syrup
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon cardamon
1 tablespoon fresh ground Flaxseed or Sesame
1 tablespoon fresh ground Pumpkin seeds or Sunflower
1 tablespoons hemp seeds
1/2 tablespoon shredded coconut
Top with bananas, fresh blueberries, chopped nuts
Add quinoa, water, coconut milk, and dates to a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes, or until quinoa has started to soften. Add cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom and shredded coconut. Cook for five minutes, adding more water if needed, until quinoa is soft and fully cooked. Top with fresh ground seeds, hemp seeds, maple syrup and other toppings of your choice.
SUPERSEED EGG & AVOCADO TOAST – 1 serving
*For days 1-14 of menstrual cycle use flax and pumpkin seeds.
*For days 15-28 of menstrual cycle use sesame and sunflower seeds
2 eggs
1 avocado – chopped
1 tablespoon chopped red onion
½ teaspoon chopped garlic
1 tablespoon chopped cilantro
1 tablespoon fresh ground Flaxseed or Sesame
1 tablespoon fresh ground Pumpkin seeds or Sunflower
Salt and pepper to taste
2 pieces of sprouted wheat toast (or preferred bread choice) – toasted
In a small bowl, combine chopped avocado, red onion, garlic, cilantro, salt and pepper, mash ingredients together until well mixed. Toast your toast and top with guacamole mixture. Prepare egg to your liking, scrambled, sunny side-up, etc, and place on top of toast and guacamole, enjoy!
Other foods that are perfect for adding your seeds to:
- Yogurt and granola: mix freshly ground seeds together with your granola and top with a ½ cup of plain yogurt, honey and fresh fruit.
- Hummus: add freshly ground seeds to your favorite hummus or try making your own if you’re feeling inspired! Pair with fresh chopped veggies for a midday snack.
- Smoothies: add freshly ground seeds to your favorite fruit/veggie recipe, the seeds add to the creamy texture!
- Chia seed pudding: mix freshly ground seeds in to your favorite chia seed pudding recipe!
- Soups and stews: especially good in creamy soups such as butternut squash or potato soup