Can “Seed Cycling” Help Balance Your Hormones?

The Trend: Seed cycling, a practice that ties women’s diets to their menstrual cycles, is the latest hormone hack on social media. The idea is rooted in naturopathy (a form of alternative medicine built around natural remedies), which holds that nutrients in certain seeds support estrogen and progesterone at different points in the cycle. Followers typically eat a tablespoon of ground flax and pumpkin seeds during the first half of their cycle, then switch to sesame and sunflower seeds during the second half. 

What People Are Saying: Supporters credit it with everything from clearer skin to easier menopause symptoms, but the science isn’t really there. A recent trial of seed cycling capsules found that participants reported improvements in PMS-related symptoms, but the capsule maker paid for the study and skipped a placebo group. Flax seed has been linked to fewer hot flashes during menopause — but there’s little evidence that strategically timing your seed consumption makes much of a difference.

What to Know: Adding these seeds to your meals is low risk, and all four are loaded with fiber and healthy fats. Just don’t expect them to fix a hormone problem.