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Are you experiencing hormonal imbalance and want to treat it without hormones nor medication? Learn how these hormone balancing energy balls will help you get your hormone in check!
Balancing your hormones naturally with a snack?! What are you talking about, Virginia?
Yes, girl. Behind this energy balls recipe lies a natural way of balancing your hormones; seed cycling.
What is seed cycling?
Seed cycling is a natural way to regulate hormones by eating specific seeds throughout your menstrual cycle.
Flax, sesame, pumpkin, and sunflower seeds support hormones during the two-cycle phases and help to keep a healthy balance between estrogen and progesterone.
Seed cycling can be beneficial to treat PMS, hormonal acne, irregular cycles as well as menstrual pain related to endometriosis and PCOS.
How does seed cycling work?
Seed cycling is based on the two phases of the menstrual cycle: the follicular phase and the luteal phase.
1- Follicular phase (Day 1 to ~14)
The follicular phase starts on the first day of your period and ends on the ovulation day. This phase is characterized by a rise in estrogen levels to prep the body for ovulation.
During this period, the focus is on flax and pumpkin seeds.
When flaxseeds help to prevent the overproduction of estrogens (lignans’ role), pumpkin seeds support progesterone production (zinc’s job) to prepare the body for the second phase.
To eat every day:
- 1 tsp ground flax seed
- 1 tsp ground pumpkin seed
2- Luteal phase (~ Day 15 to 28)
The luteal phase starts just after ovulation and finishes the last day of the cycle (the day before your period starts). This phase is characterized by a rise in progesterone, which is in charge of forming the uterine lining.
During this period, estrogens should remain pretty low. If not, that’s when you will experience PMS (bloating, cramps, etc.).
The luteal phase focuses on sesame and sunflower seeds.
Sesame seeds will prevent overproduction of estrogens (selenium’s role) and sunflower seeds will support progesterone’s production (vitamin E).
To eat every day:
- 1 tsp ground sesame seeds
- 1 tsp ground sunflower seeds
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About the hormone balancing energy balls
When I talk to women about seed cycling for hormone regulation, I am often told that it looks challenging to include so many seeds in your diet, right?
And I get it, especially if you are not used to eating seeds at all. That’s how I came up with this energy balls recipe which makes it so easy (and delicious) to eat your seeds.
The snack is made with either flax and pumpkin seeds or sesame and sunflower seeds. You then will have to figure out, according to your cycle, which seeds to use in the recipe.
These quantities will enable you to make 14 small energy balls. By eating two a day, you will have the recommended size portion of seeds for the day (2 tbsp).
You will find more information about seed cycling, how it works, and why it works in this article.
You obviously don’t have to have imbalanced hormones to make and eat these energy balls. They are perfect for a healthy snack!
Health benefits
🌱 Rich in zinc, omega-3s, magnesium
🌱 Source of vitamin E
🌱 Rich en fibers
Ingredients
For 14 servings
-
1/3 cup (50g) flax or sesame seeds
-
1/3 cup (50g) pumpkin or sunflower seeds
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1 cup (90g) rolled oats
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1/3 cup (80g) almond butter
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1/4 cup (20g) shredded coconut (optional)
-
2 tbsp maple/agave syrup or honey
-
2 dates
-
1 tsp cinnamon (optional)
Instructions
Step 1
If your seeds aren’t ground yet, ground them in a blender (works with a coffee grinder too).
Step 2
Add all the ingredients to a food processor and blend until a dough forms.
The consistency should be firm and slightly sticky. If it’s too dry, add more almond butter or syrup. If it’s too wet, add more oats.
Step 3
Once the dough ready, it is time to form the balls. Take a small portion of dough and make it into a ball by pressing it between your fingers. Then, roll it between your palms to make it perfectly round.
Step 4
Repeat with the remaining dough. Leave them in the fridge for 30 minutes and they will be ready to be eaten!
Notes and variations
- If you struggle forming the balls, wetting your hands might help
- Kept in the fridge, the energy balls will last you up to 7 days
If you make this hormone balancing energy bites recipe, make sure to tag me on Instagram @vlourish so I can see your recreations!
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