Ciara Clark Wellness-HORMONE BALANCING SMOOTHIE.jpeg

Postpartum is an interesting time. I can easily account the 4th trimester (the 1st three months of your baby's life) as being the most difficult time. Pregnancy was hard .. labor was tough .. delivery was not easy .. and postpartum is a b*tch!

You're in pain, emotions are high, hormones are scattered, hair is falling out, stress levels are at an ultimate high, and sleep is a pastime .. so let's talk seed cycling.

Seed cycling is such a powerful tool for using food to gently and effectively balance your hormones. The best part is that it works no matter what stage you are at in your life --> pre-menopause, postpartum, or even at the very beginning of your reproductive years. After having a baby, it takes the average women approximately 1.5 yrs to fall back into balance, so it's important to do the work.

So how do you do it?

During days 1-14 of your cycle (the menstrual and follicular phases) add 1 tbsp each of pumpkin and flax seeds to your diet. I add them to my morning smoothie, as it's best to consume them ground up to maximize the absorption of vitamins and minerals, and for proper digestion. Pumpkin is high in zinc, which helps to bind heavy metals, and flax binds excess estrogen, which is highest during this phase.

Through days 15-28, the luteal phase of your cycle, add 1 tbsp each of sesame and sunflower seeds, in place of pumpkin and flax. These seeds will help to bind excess estrogen and promote the production of progesterone and ovulation.

Every women's cycle is different (~ 21-35 days), so optimize accordingly. Rebalancing your hormones using seed rotation can alleviate many of your symptoms in as little as 1-2 months. Also make sure to focus on lowering stress levels and getting adequate sleep. And if you're interested in an app for tracking your cycle, I love the MyFLO app by Flo Living!

Here’s a recipe to get you started!