Seed Cycling Energy Balls

Vegan homemade Seed Cycling Energy Balls (2 flavors) to help balance your hormones for a healthy menstrual cycle. Made with seeds, dates, spices, almond milk, and protein powder. A delicious and easy way to add seed cycling into your routine!

Seed cycling energy balls and I am so excited to share! And we have not one, but two flavors!

While you can buy seed cycling balls from companies, I have found they are super expensive. And you can easily make them at home! And it makes seed cycling so easy, especially when you are on the go or traveling.

If you have followed along for a bit, you know I’ve dealt with health and hormonal issues over the past decade of my life. It was a little over 2 years ago when I decided enough was enough and wanted to heal my body. I’m happy to say I’ve had my cycle for 2 years! And it keeps getting better and better.

While there were a lot of changes I implemented (read all about them in this post), I also discovered and started seed cycling 2 years ago. And it has been so beneficial in having a regular cycle after 10 years of not having one.

When I first started seed cycling, my cycle was around 37 days long. It is now around 30-32 days. I’ve also noticed that my cramping is now nonexistent (it was so bad when I first got my period back) and my cycles have gotten lighter. I currently have a pretty symptomless period.

Usually, when I am home, I can easily incorporate my seeds in the foods I’m eating – smoothies, oatmeal, yogurt bowls… But since we are currently traveling and not in my own kitchen, I decided to make some seed cycling balls to make my life easier. No need to grind seeds every day and I can easily grab 2 for a snack each day.

I made two different flavors to keep it interesting, but use this recipe as a base. Adjust the spices/flavors as you see fit.

What is seed cycling?

I won’t go into too much detail here as I have an all about seed cycling post that lays out everything you need to know about it, but let’s talk about the general idea of seed cycling.

Seed cycling is a natural way to balance your hormones via food during different phases of your cycle. It sounds a little woo-woo and out there, but it can be very beneficial (and I’ve had great success with it).

Unfortunately, many women struggle with a difficult menstrual cycle. From painful periods, cramps, fatigue, bloating, acne, body aches, breast soreness, irregular cycles, PMS, heavy or light bleeding, infertility, and more. These symptoms are not normal though and it’s our body telling us there is some kind of hormonal imbalance.

Eating certain seeds through the phases of your cycle, which have essential fatty acids that support our sex hormones, can help with improving symptoms and balancing hormones, leading to a healthier cycle. During the follicular phase, you consume seeds that promote estrogen production, which rises during this phase (the first half of your cycle). Then during the luteal phase (the second half of your cycle), you consume seeds that promote progesterone which rises during this phase.

Each seed has benefits that help with the phases of your cycle.

How to seed cycle

Days 1-14 – eat one tablespoon of pumpkin seeds and one tablespoon and flax seeds, freshly ground
Days 15-28 – eat one tablespoon of sesame seeds and one tablespoon of sunflower seeds, freshly ground

During the follicular phase, eat pumpkin and flax seeds. They contain phytoestrogens that help adapt to the body’s estrogen levels by increasing and decreasing estrogen levels where needed. Flax seeds contain lignans that bind to estrogen so it can be removed from the body. Pumpkin seeds are high in zinc which prepares the body for progesterone secretion in the next phase. Both are great sources of omega 3s which help to reduce inflammation.

During the luteal phase, eat sesame and sunflower seeds. Sesame seeds are high in lignans which help regulate estrogen and progesterone levels. Sunflower seeds are high in selenium, which supports the liver function to help with proper hormone excretion. Both are high in omega 6s, which is converted to GLA in the body, supports progesterone levels, and reduces inflammation in the body related to PMS.

For more details about seed cycling and the phases of women’s cycles, check out my in-depth seed cycling post.

Most people say seeds should be freshly ground each day to help with nutrient absorption. While I try to do this when I’m home, it’s just not realistic at all times. And that is where these seed cycling energy balls come in!

Seed cycling energy balls

Easy homemade seed cycling energy balls in two different flavors to help you eat seeds for seed cycling. Made with dates, ground seeds, protein powder, almond milk, and spices. Makes enough balls for 14 days so you don’t have to grind your seeds every day.

Here is what you need:

• ground phase 1 (pumpkin + flax) or phase 2 (sesame + sunflower) seed cycling seeds
• dates
• protein powder – I love Ka’Chava plant-based (use code ‘EATTHEGAINS’ for 15% off)
• almond milk
• spices

First, start off by grinding your seeds. This ensures the seeds are thoroughly ground before making energy balls. I usually grind mine in my Vitamix, but whatever method you use will work. Since grinding a bunch at once, you might have to do them in batches if using something smaller (like a coffee grinder).

Next pulse your dates a few times in your food processor. This will break them down to be well incorporated. Then add your remaining ingredients – ground seeds, protein powder, almond milk, and spices. Pulse until a dough forms.

The dough should be a little crumbly but sticks together when pressed together. If needed you can add more liquid. If it’s too wet (depending on how juicy your dates are), you can add a little more protein powder.

Then take your dough and form into balls. I like to form into 28 smaller balls so I can eat 2 at a time. To do this, take about a tablespoon or so and form into a ball (use a tablespoon as a scoop). If you want to get precise, it is about 21 grams per balls.

Also, if you rather just have one ball a day, you can form into 14 larger seed cycling energy balls. This would be about 1/8 cup or 42 grams per ball.

Substitutions for seed cycling energy balls

Here are a few substitutions and modifications if needed. Seed cycling balls have only been tested as the recipe is written, but these should work with a little experimenting.

• seeds – if you can’t have one kind of seeds in one of the phases, just double up on the other seed. for example, if you can’t have pumpkin seeds, use flax instead.
• spices – feel free to change up the spices to change up the flavors
• protein powder – any kind of protein powder should work (vegan, whey, collagen…). Depending on the consistency of the powder, you may have to adjust the quantity. If you don’t have protein powder, I would substitute rolled oats.

How to store seed cycling balls

Since the seeds are ground in advance when making seed cycling balls, they should be stored in the fridge (or the freezer) to make sure the healthy essential fatty acids in the seeds remain stable and don’t oxidize. They also taste good cold right out of the fridge/freezer!

To store in the freezer, line a baking sheet with parchment paper and place energy balls on them, spreading out evenly. Freeze for 1-2 hours. Once frozen, you can store in a freezer-safe bag or dish. Freezing them beforehand makes sure they don’t stick together when transferring to a bag.

More healthy energy balls

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4.75 from 16 votes

Seed Cycling Energy Balls

Author: Kelly Nardo

Vegan homemade seed cycling energy balls (2 flavors) to help balance your hormones for a healthy menstrual cycle. Made with seeds, dates, spices, almond milk, and protein powder. A delicious and easy way to add seed cycling into your routine!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Course: Snack

Calories: 149kcal

Protein: 6.6g

Carbs: 15g

Fat: 8.1g

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes minutes

Servings: 28 balls

ingredients

Phase 1 Seed Cycling Energy Balls (Chai Spiced)

• 3/4 cup + 2 tablespoons flax seeds *
• 3/4 cup + 2 tablespoons pumpkin seeds *
• 10 Medjool dates (1 cup/150 grams)
• 3/4 cup vanilla protein powder **
• 1/2 cup + 1 tablespoon almond milk
• 1 1/2 tablespoons cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ginger
• 1 teaspoon cardamom
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon allspice
• pinch of sea salt

Phase 2 Seed Cycling Energy Balls (Chocolate Cinnamon)

• 3/4 cup + 2 tablespoons sunflower seeds *
• 3/4 cup + 2 tablespoons sesame seeds *
• 10 Medjool dates (1 cup/150 grams)
• 3/4 cup chocolate protein powder **
• 1/2 cup + 1 tablespoon almond milk
• 2 tablespoons cacao powder
• 2 tablespoons maca powder
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon
• pinch of sea salt

instructions

Phase 1 + Phase 2 Seed Cycling Balls

• Grind your seeds. Add to a blender (or whatever method you usually use) and blend until ground into a flour-like consistency. If needed, do in a few batches to ensure they are evenly ground.
• Add dates to a food processor and pulse a few times to break down. Add in ground seeds and remaining ingredients. Pulse for 30 seconds or so until dough-like consistency forms. The batter should look a little crumbly, but stick together when you press on it. If too dry, add a bit more almond milk. If too wet, add a bit more protein powder or spices.
• Using a tablespoon as a spoon, form into 28 equal-sized balls (makes for eating 2 balls per day). Each ball will be about 21 grams. You can also make larger seed cycling balls and form in 14 balls (42 grams each), eating one ball a day. Store in the refrigerator or freezer and eat 2 a day (if making 28 balls) for 14 days. Once finished, make the next phase!

notes

*using 3/4 cup + 2 tablespoons (14 tablespoons) of each seed will give you 14 days worth of energy balls. Adjust the amount of seeds for how many days you want.

**any kind of protein powder should work (vegan, whey, collagen...). Depending on the consistency of the powder, you may have to adjust the quantity. If you don't have protein powder, I would substitute rolled oats.

nutrition and calorie breakdown will depend on the kind of protein powder you use

nutritional breakdown for phase 2 seed cycling balls (2 balls per day):
182 calories - 7g protein, 16.3g carbs, 11.3g fat, 4.3g fiber, 9.1g sugar

the nutrition label below is for phase 1 (pumpkin and flax) seed cycling balls

nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Seed Cycling Energy Balls

Amount Per Serving (2 phase 1 energy balls (when making 28 balls))

Calories 149 Calories from Fat 73

% Daily Value*

Fat 8.1g12%

Saturated Fat 1.4g9%

Polyunsaturated Fat 4g

Monounsaturated Fat 1.7g

Potassium 155mg4%

Carbohydrates 15g5%

Fiber 4.8g20%

Sugar 8.1g9%

Protein 6.6g13%

Vitamin A 308IU6%

Vitamin C 3.4mg4%

Calcium 134mg13%

Iron 1.6mg9%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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