NUTRITION
MYTH BUSTER:
SEED CYCLING
Can downing a couple of teaspoons of flax seeds at just the right moment help balance your hormones and dampen PMS? We asked the experts. WRITTEN BY EMILY SMITH
When it comes to dieting fads, we have seen a lot, if not it all. Skinny teas, expensive whey proteins dressed up as meal replacements, 100 bananas per day and now the latest hashtag: seed cycling. It supposedly works by alternating different types of seeds into your diet during each phase of your menstrual cycle, providing a dose of essential fatty acids and nutrients to support hormone health, balance oestrogen and progesterone levels, and reduce the symptoms we all dread – from PMS to pain. But could the answer to deflating the bloat and balancing your emotions really be as simple as dumping a few seeds into your morning smoothie?
Hormonal imbalance is in the spotlight Hormonal imbalance is becoming more and more common in women of all ages, says Accredited Practising Dietitian and Nutritionist, Stefanie Valakas. The causes? Well, it varies.
46
STRONGFITNESSMAG.COM.AU
“Hormones are really important, and keeping them all in check, including those that affect the reproductive system, is like ensuring every single instrument and string in a large orchestra are in tune so the piece of music sounds just right,” says Valakas. “Concerns about reproductive hormones are common, from polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) affecting 12 to 20 per cent of women, and endometriosis making up another 10 per cent of Australian women of reproductive age, not to mention those who just struggle with irregular or heavy menstrual cycles for a range of other reasons, too.” Poor diet, environmental toxins, including perfumes and plastics, and stress can all play a part in hormone imbalance, says Naturopath Dina Savitz, which can also cause symptoms such as fatigue, depression or anxiety, mood swings, body or joint pain, difficulty sleeping, headaches, infertility, low immunity and hair loss.
While saliva and blood tests that assess levels of sex hormones are available from an endocrinologist or gynaecologist, diagnosing the problem hormones can be a complicated and expensive process, let alone treating the issue. So it’s little wonder women go searching for an easier and cheaper solution. Seed cycling has become so popular on the interwebs, says Valakas, due to a modern awareness of the importance of hormones and a craving for natural alternatives to menstrual issues. “Every woman wants a simple way to have better periods, whether that’s more regular, lighter periods or less of the not-so-fun associated symptoms such as skin problems, including pimples and acne,” she explains. “Seeds are incredibly nutritious, so it’s a believable concept that different sets of nutrients at different times may help to improve cycle health.”
February/March 2020
